Suppose we have 12 balls, which look exactly the same but one weights differently from others. Please use a balance to find the different ball and tell if it’s heavier or lighter than the others. Determine the least time that you need to find the ball and also how to find.

 

 

Answer: 3 times!

Step:1

Step 2:

Step 3:

 

 

 

 

 

 

An interactive Java applet demo will be offered soon!!! (hopefully soon)

 

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April, 2001