🧠The 12 Coins Puzzle (The Counterfeit Weigher) You have…
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🧠The 12 Coins Puzzle (The Counterfeit Weigher)
You have 12 identical-looking gold coins. One is counterfeit and has a slightly different weight (you don't know if it's heavier or lighter!). With a balance scale, what is the minimum number of weighings needed to guarantee finding it?
💬 Could you write down the exact branching strategy for all 3 weighings? Try it in the comments! (Solution in first comment 👇)
#brain #coinpuzzle #informationtheory #math #logic
You have 12 identical-looking gold coins. One is counterfeit and has a slightly different weight (you don't know if it's heavier or lighter!). With a balance scale, what is the minimum number of weighings needed to guarantee finding it?
💬 Could you write down the exact branching strategy for all 3 weighings? Try it in the comments! (Solution in first comment 👇)
#brain #coinpuzzle #informationtheory #math #logic
| 54,000 mlx | |
| 8 | |
| 1 |
comments
💡 SCIENCE BEHIND THE ILLUSION:
Only THREE weighings! By dividing the 12 coins into three groups of 4 (4 vs 4, leaving 4 aside), each weighing yields three possible outcomes (left tilts down, right tilts down, or balanced). 3³ = 27 possible outcomes, which easily exceeds the 24 possible states (12 coins × heavier/lighter).
Only THREE weighings! By dividing the 12 coins into three groups of 4 (4 vs 4, leaving 4 aside), each weighing yields three possible outcomes (left tilts down, right tilts down, or balanced). 3³ = 27 possible outcomes, which easily exceeds the 24 possible states (12 coins × heavier/lighter).
