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Use your brain!
#22093 10/14/03 06:55 PM
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pmbuko Offline OP
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No, that's not an insult. I thought some people here might like a place that challenges the brain in a different way. So this will be the riddle / brain teaser thread. (This may flop completely, but it's worth a try. I know at least I love riddles. )

I'll start it off with one of my favorites.

You have 12 similar looking balls. 11 of them weight the same. One of them is slightly heavier than the others. You also have a scale. You can put balls on both sides of the scale and it'll tell you which side is heavier or will stay in the middle if both sides weight the same. Here's the kicker: You can only use the scale 3 times. How can you find the one ball that is heavier?

Re: Use your brain!
#22094 10/14/03 07:03 PM
Joined: Aug 2002
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old hand
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Put 6 balls on each side. One side will be heavier.

Take the 6 balls from the heavier side, split them into 3 each, and put them on different sides. One side will be heavier.

With the 3 balls from the heaiver side remaining, take TWO, put 1 on each side. If one side/ball is heavier, then that's the one. If they both weigh the same, then the third ball is the heavier one.



Give me another one, I'm bored at work

Re: Use your brain!
#22095 10/14/03 07:53 PM
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pmbuko Offline OP
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You can also start with 5 balls on each side, leaving 2 aside to measure if the others weigh the same.

Ok then. Here's the same riddle with a nasty twist:

You have 12 similar looking balls. 11 of them weigh the same. One of them has a slightly different weight, BUT you don't know whether it is heavier or lighter. You also have a scale. You can put balls on both sides of the scale and it'll tell you which side is heavier or will stay in the middle if both sides weight the same. Again, you can use the scale only three times. How can you find out whether the different ball is lighter or heavier and which one it is?

(I haven't been able to figure this one out, but it is solvable as far as I know.)

Re: Use your brain!
#22096 10/14/03 10:05 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,490
connoisseur
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Umm... I give up on the second version!!! Are you sure it's solvable?


Okay, here is my favorite:

There are two rooms next to each other: one with three switches, the other with three light bulbs. Each one of these switches turns on/off one corresponding light bulb in the other room. You can come in to each room only once, manipulating/observing the switches and light bulbs. How do you determine which switch is connected to which light bulb?

Re: Use your brain!
#22097 10/14/03 10:30 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,859
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I know that one Sushi, but I'll give someone else a chance to think about it for a while first.

Re: Use your brain!
#22098 10/14/03 10:35 PM
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mwc Offline
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I,m so glad to see you boys playing so nicely!


I live the life I love and I love the life I live.
Re: Use your brain!
#22099 10/14/03 10:41 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
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This is a nice spot for puzzles, but the best place to go is:
http://www.lateralpuzzles.com/

-Andy

Re: Use your brain!
#22100 10/14/03 10:42 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
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Sorry about that last post, but I could not resist.
All in good fun. Please don't ban me. ;-)

Re: Use your brain!
#22101 10/14/03 10:48 PM
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Oh, and the answer to the puzzle is:
Turn switch 1 on and leave it on for 10 minutes or so.
Turn off switch 1, turn on switch 2, then go to the other room.
The light that is on goes with switch 2, the light that is off but warm goes with switch 1, and the light that is off and cold goes with switch 3.


Re: Use your brain!
#22102 10/14/03 10:49 PM
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Yes, Andy the BAD BOY, you will be evicted!!!

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