What do you think?

Gráinne · 01-23-2011, 07:38 PM

My idea:

#1-Divide the 100 coins into piles of 50. The heavier pile has the counterfeit.

#2-Divide the heavier pile into piles of 25. The heavier pile has the counterfeit.

#3-Divide the heavier pile into two piles of 12 (24). You hold one coin.
IF the piles are equal, you have the counterfeit!
IF they are unequal, you have a "normal" coin, and the heavier pile
has the counterfeit.

#4-Take the heavier pile (unless you were lucky above) of 12, and divide it into 6. The heavier pile has the counterfeit.

#5-Take the heavier pile of 6 and divide into two groups of 3. The heavier pile has the counterfeit.

#6-Take the heavier pile of 3, and put one coin on each pan. You hold one coin.
IF the coins are equal-you have the counterfeit in your hand.
IF the coins are unequal-that heavy coin is the counterfeit.

01-23-2011, 07:38 PM	#11
Gráinne Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Neither, nada, out of the box Preferred Pronoun?: My name always works Relationship Status: Happy whatever happens Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,864 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,115 Thanked 7,387 Times in 1,457 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	My idea: #1-Divide the 100 coins into piles of 50. The heavier pile has the counterfeit. #2-Divide the heavier pile into piles of 25. The heavier pile has the counterfeit. #3-Divide the heavier pile into two piles of 12 (24). You hold one coin. IF the piles are equal, you have the counterfeit! IF they are unequal, you have a "normal" coin, and the heavier pile has the counterfeit. #4-Take the heavier pile (unless you were lucky above) of 12, and divide it into 6. The heavier pile has the counterfeit. #5-Take the heavier pile of 6 and divide into two groups of 3. The heavier pile has the counterfeit. #6-Take the heavier pile of 3, and put one coin on each pan. You hold one coin. IF the coins are equal-you have the counterfeit in your hand. IF the coins are unequal-that heavy coin is the counterfeit. __________________ The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one. ~Erma Bombeck