1/17/2015

WeighingPoolBallsPuzzleSolution

WeighingPoolBallsSolution
Thisisthesolutiontothe WeighingPoolBallsPuzzle .

The Puzzle:
Youhave12ballsidenticalinsizeandappearancebut1isanoddweight(couldbeeither
lightorheavy).
Youhaveasetofbalancescaleswhichwillgive3possible
readings:
Left=Right,
Left>Right,or
Left<Right
(i.e.LeftandRighthaveequalweight,LeftisHeavier,orLeftisLighter).
Youhaveonly3chancestoweightheballsinanycombinationusingthescales.
Determinewhichballistheoddoneandifit'sheavierorlighterthantherest.
Howdoyoudoit?

The Solution:
Numbertheballs1,2,3,...10,11,12
Startoffwiththemin3groups:[1,2,3and4],[5,6,7and8]and[9,10,11and12]
Weigh1,2,3and4vs5,6,7and8with3possibleoutcomes:

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WeighingPoolBallsPuzzleSolution

1.Iftheybalancethen9,10,11,12havetheoddball,soweigh6,7,8vs
9,10,11with3possibleoutcomes:

1a

If6,7,8vs9,10,11balances,12istheoddball.Weighitagainstanyotherball
todetermineifheavyorlight.

1b

If9,10,11isheavythentheycontainaheavyball.Weigh9vs10,ifbalanced
then11istheoddheavyball,elsetheheavierof9or10istheoddheavyball.

1b

If9,10,11islightthentheycontainalightball.Weigh9vs10,ifbalancedthen
11istheoddlightball,elsethelighterof9or10istheoddlightball.

2.If5,6,7,8>1,2,3,4theneither5,6,7,8containsaheavyballor1,2,3,4
containsalightballsoweigh1,2,5vs3,6,12with3possibleoutcomes:
2a

If1,2,5vs3,6,12balances,theneither4istheoddlightballor7or8istheodd
heavyball.Weigh7vs8,iftheybalancethen4istheoddlightball,orthe
heaviestof7vs8istheoddheavyball.

2b

If3,6,12isheavytheneither6istheoddheavyballor1or2istheoddlight
ball.Weigh1vs2,ifbalancedthen6istheoddheavyball,orthelightestof1vs
2istheoddlightball.

2c

If3,6,12islighttheneither3islightor5isheavy.Weigh3againstanyother
ball,ifbalancedthen5istheoddheavyballelse3istheoddlightball.

3.If1,2,3,4>5,6,7,8theneither1,2,3,4containsaheavyballor5,6,7,8
containsalightballsoweigh5,6,1vs7,2,12with3possibleoutcomes:
3a

If5,6,1vs7,2,12balances,theneither8istheoddlightballor3or4istheodd
heavyball.Weigh3vs4,iftheybalancethen8istheoddlightball,orthe
heaviestof3vs4istheoddheavyball.

3b

If7,2,12isheavytheneither2istheoddheavyballor5or6istheoddlight
ball.Weigh5vs6,ifbalancedthen2istheoddheavyball,orthelightestof5vs
6istheoddlightball.

3c

If7,2,12islighttheneither7islightor1isheavy.Weigh7againstanyother
ball,ifbalancedthen1istheoddheavyballelse7istheoddlightball.

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WeighingPoolBallsPuzzleSolution

PuzzlesuppliedbyRichardRider
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