Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Version 2 case 2 and version 3 case 1

Version 2 (Case 2)

Rationale

First weighing

Put any 3 coins on either side of the scale.

If the scale is not balanced, the counterfeit is in the heavier side.

Second weighing

Place any 2 coins from the heavier group , each on either side of the scale.

1) If the scale balances, the counterfeit is the last coin.

2) If they do not balance, the heavier coin is the counterfeit.

Version 3 ( Case 1)

Use A, B ,C and D to represent groups of three coins

Rationale

First weighing

Place A and B on either side of the scale.

If the scale balances, try by replacing B with C.

Second weighing

Replace B with C

If it also balances, counterfeit is in D

Third weighing

Place any 2 coins, each on either side of the scale

If it does not balance, replace 1 coin with the last coin.

Fourth weighing

Replace 1 coin with the last coin.

1) If the scale balances, counterfeit is the coin that was replaced.

2)If the scale becomes unbalanced(meaning that the other two are equal in weight), counterfeit coin will have a different weight compared to the other 2.

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