Problem Statement:
You have twelve bags and one has a different weight than the others, and it is unspecified whether that is lighter or heavier. You must find the outlying bag and do so in the least amount of moves possible. It is also required that you know whether it is lighter or heavier, good luck!
Process:
I started this problem by looking back on my notes for POW #10 "Eight Bags Of Gold" After looking for a few seconds I found out that the method I had used would take several tries. This realization helped me to decide that some modifications were necessary. A few minutes later I remembered what the POW had said (it can be done in three moves.) I started making assumptions like “its the scale in the picture for POW 10,” or “the weight difference is perceptible,” then I came to my answer.
Solution:
You weigh it with six on each side but you must be sure to spread them far apart, therefore the one that it tips towards (upwards or downwards) and the one across from it are suspects. Take those two and the six from the other platter and compare those four to four (one suspect on each side.) The one that tips (upwards or downwards) is the bag, if it goes up it's lighter and if it goes down it's heavier.
Evaluation:
I didn't necessarily enjoy this problem being as it was a repeat of the eight bags of gold with more gold. but it was entertaining to see how I could do this in less than three try's (which was what Jocelyn said was the minimum in the POW.) I would rate this problem a 6 of 10, and wouldn't mind doing more things like it.
You have twelve bags and one has a different weight than the others, and it is unspecified whether that is lighter or heavier. You must find the outlying bag and do so in the least amount of moves possible. It is also required that you know whether it is lighter or heavier, good luck!
Process:
I started this problem by looking back on my notes for POW #10 "Eight Bags Of Gold" After looking for a few seconds I found out that the method I had used would take several tries. This realization helped me to decide that some modifications were necessary. A few minutes later I remembered what the POW had said (it can be done in three moves.) I started making assumptions like “its the scale in the picture for POW 10,” or “the weight difference is perceptible,” then I came to my answer.
Solution:
You weigh it with six on each side but you must be sure to spread them far apart, therefore the one that it tips towards (upwards or downwards) and the one across from it are suspects. Take those two and the six from the other platter and compare those four to four (one suspect on each side.) The one that tips (upwards or downwards) is the bag, if it goes up it's lighter and if it goes down it's heavier.
Evaluation:
I didn't necessarily enjoy this problem being as it was a repeat of the eight bags of gold with more gold. but it was entertaining to see how I could do this in less than three try's (which was what Jocelyn said was the minimum in the POW.) I would rate this problem a 6 of 10, and wouldn't mind doing more things like it.