Ok so this king puts all his gold into 8 bags such that each bag weighs the same amount. One days he finds out that someone stole some of his gold from a bag but doesn't know which one. How the hell does the poor king figure this thing out?
note: The only scale in the whole universe was the pan balance.
The kings needs to figure this puzzle out in only 2 steps.
that right only 2 steps.
good luck my subjects.
2007-04-25 11:48:29 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Put three bags on one side of the scale, and three on the other.
If they balance:
Compare the last two bags, and whichever is lighter is the your bag.
If they don't balance:
Take the three 'light' bags, and compare two; if they balance, the light bag is the one you didn't compare; otherwise, the scale will show which is short.
Either way, it's two steps.
2007-04-25 11:55:38 · answer #1 · answered by harvityharvharvharv 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
First place six bags on the scale three on a side. (leaving two off the scale)
A.)
If these six bags balance then all six are equal weight.
Weight the remaining two and you will see which one is the lightest....
B.) If weighing the six bags the scale is unbalanced then you know which group of three bags contain the light bag. The other bags will all weight the same .
Using the light group of three bags , place two bags on the scale (one on each side) and place the third one aside. If the scale balances then the bag placed aside is the light bag. Other wise if the scale is unbalaned then the light bag is easily determined
2007-04-25 16:22:43 · answer #2 · answered by MarkG 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take 6 bags, leave 2 aside. Put 3 on one side of scale, and another 3 on the other side.
If the scale is balanced, then the one missing golds has to be one of 2 left. Then weight the 2 left. The one has less weight is the ONE.
If the scale is inbalanced. Take the 3 bags that weight less. the one missing golds has to be one of these 3 bags. Take any of 2 bags out of these 3 bags, and leave 1 bag aside. Put 1 bag on one side of scale, 1 on the other side of scale. If the scale is balanced, then the one missing gold is the one left aside. If the scale is unbalanced, then the one missing gold is the one has less weight.
DONE!
2007-04-25 13:06:51 · answer #3 · answered by need_advice 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you put three bags on each side of the scale and the scale is balanced then the remaining two bags can be placed on the scale to see which one is lighter.
If the initial three bags on each side does not balance, then you know the light one is one of the three bags on the light side. If you pick two of these remaining bags and place them on the scale and they balance out then the only option is the third bag. And if they don't balance you know which one is the light also.
Done in two steps.
2007-04-25 15:03:49 · answer #4 · answered by Jim G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put three bags on one side of the scale, and three on the other.
If they balance:
Compare the last two bags, and whichever is lighter is the your bag.
If they don't balance
Take the three 'light' bags, and compare two; if they balance, the light bag is the one you didn't compare; otherwise, the scale will show which is short.
2007-04-25 12:05:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I accept with the above answers of 3 + 3 bags. Thats the best. all other ways of finding it would need more than 2 steps
2007-04-29 09:00:26 · answer #6 · answered by India Invents 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if hes using the pan balance thing and each bag weighs the same amount then if he put one bag on one pan and another bag on the 2nd pan and the pans are not balanced then he would obviously see the one that is less
2007-04-25 11:58:18 · answer #7 · answered by aadee 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
1: he goes up to the person who stole the gold
2: he asks him which bag he took it out of
2007-04-25 12:34:45 · answer #8 · answered by dont care what it is! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by weighing it.. DUH
2007-04-25 11:54:18 · answer #9 · answered by cartman 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋