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Re: 12 billiard ball problem
Posted:
Nov 18, 1997 6:53 PM
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Followup to: <01bcf44e$fef00320$8de52ac2@jon>
By author: "Jonathan Pearce" <jvpearce@classic.msn.com>
In newsgroup: sci.math
>
> Does anybody know of an elegant solution to the twelve billiard ball
> problem?
>
> (Twelve apparently identical billiard balls, one of which is slightly
> heavier than the rest, determine which is the heavier one making only three
> weighings.)
>
> I would be very grateful for a reply.
>
> JVP.
Why make it so easy? Twelve billiard balls (gold bars, whatever...);
exactly one is *either* lighter *or* heavier than the others; find
which one it is *and* if it is lighter or heavier, in three
weighings by a balance scale.
My music teacher gave me this problem back in sixth grade. It's
solvable (and yes, I found the solution.)
-hpa
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