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Patrick from Woodbridge School gave a very
clear explanation of how to work out which weight is heavier, in
just two weighings of the balance, when you have been given 9
weights and you are told that one is slightly heavier than the
rest:
It is always possible to find the different weight, using a simple
method.
First, we think, "If we only had 2 weights, would this be possible
in one weighing?". The answer is yes.
Then, "If we had three weights and one weighing, is this possible?"
The answer is still yes, since we can put one weight on both sides
of the balance. If they are equal then the unused weight is
heavier, and if they are unbalanced then the side that goes down
holds the heavier weight. Let us call this method Method 1.
We can divide the nine weights into three now:
1, 2, 3
4, 5, 6
7, 8, 9
BALANCE 456 and 789
If the weighings are equal then we can use Method 1 on weights 1, 2
and 3 since we know that all the other weights are equal so they
cannot contain the heavier weight.
If the weights 4, 5 and 6 go down on the balance then we can use
Method 1 on them since 4, 5 and 6 must contain the heavier weight.
If the weights 7, 8 and 9 go down then we can use Method 1 on them
since 7, 8 and 9 must contain the heavier weight.
Thomas from Wolsey House Primary School,
Maccy from Limavady Grammar School, Esther, Alex from Hassall Grove
P.S. in Australia, Lucy from Flegg High School and Harry from
Dumpton School in Dorset all gave very similar explanations of how
to solve this problem. Here is Harry's account:
With 9 weights, put 3 on the left scale, 3 on the right scale, and
3 on the side. If scales balance, odd weight must be on the side,
otherwise it must be on heavier side of scales. Take the group of 3
weights including the odd one. Weigh 2 of those weights. If scales
balance, the one on the side is the odd one. If not, the heavier
weight on the scales is odd.
Daniel from Barclay School then built on this
strategy to work out which weight is heavier in just three
weighings of the balance when you have been given 27 weights and
been told that one is slightly heavier than the rest:
As in the task before I can see that I have to put a third of
the weights on each side. I then find the group of 9which it is in
and then continue as above until I get it down to one. This takes
three turns as a third of 27 is 9, a third of 9 is 3 and a third of
3 is 1.
Tim from Alcester Grammar School also had a
clear strategy for finding the heavier weight:
1. Yes, you can always do it in 2 weighings with 9 weights.
Here's how:
Let the weights be called 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9.
STEP 1: Weigh 1+2+3 against 4+5+6
If the scales tip you know that one of those 3 weights is
heavier; if they stay level you know it's either 7,8 or 9.
STEP 2: Whichever group of 3 the heavier weight is in, you
weigh two of those against one another. Whichever one tips, that is
the heavier weight, if they stay level it's the other one.
2. Noooooooooooooooooo! It can't be done with ten weights. Oh
fiddlesticks. PROOF: On the second weighing, you can only guarantee
to find the weight if you have narrowed it down to 3 or less
choices, as in step 2 of question 1. Unfortunately, with ten, the
best you can guarantee to narrow it down to in a single weighing is
a group of 4, since 10 is one MORE than (2+1) x 3, so you may have
an 'odd weight'
3. It can be done with 27 weights. I've already said in
question 1 that it can be done in 2 weighings with 9 weights, so,
if we can, with 27 weights say that it is one of nine weights in
one weighing, we can just follow the method in question 1 to find
the answer.
To do this, weigh 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9 against
10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 and 18.
Whichever way it tips, you know it's one of those nine, but if
it stays level, it's one of the remaining nine.
Finally, Stephan from St Philips School sent
us a strategy for identifying, in just three weighings, which
weight is different and whether it is heavier or lighter, when you
have 9 weights and know that one is a slightly different weight,
but don't know if it is heavier or lighter.
Here is his
solution.
Well done to all of you.