COIN WEIGHING PROBLEMS

1. Given an accurate 2-pan balance and 9 coins of identical appearance, of which one
weighs less than the others (it is counterfeit), identify the faulty coin using the
balance no more than twice.

2. Given an accurate 2-pan balance and 80 coins of identical appearance, of which one
weighs less than the others (it is counterfeit), identify the faulty coin using the
balance in how many weighing we can find out.

3. Given an accurate 2-pan balance and 12 coins of identical appearance, of which one
weighs less or heavier than the others (it is counterfeit), identify the faulty coin
using the balance in how many weighing we can find out.

4. Prashanth has 12 packs of cigarettes and in each pack there are 10 cigarettes one of
them is counterfeit, he want to identify the cigarette using a common balance in
how many weighing.

A vegetable vendor wants to minimize the number of weights with him (since
carrying less number of weights is convenient). He makes certain rules for all the
customers who want to purchase vegetables from him:

I. Nobody can purchase more than 100 kg vegetables alone.

II. Customer has to purchase vegetables in integral values of weights (eg. 1kg, 2kg,
3kgso on but not 2.5 kg or 10.25 kg.)

Vendor has a commonly used balance with unbiased pans on both the sides and he used
only integral valued weights.

5. How many minimum weights the vendor requires to operate his transactions if
weights can be put on one side of balance only?

(a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 8 (d) 9

6. How many minimum weights the vendor requires to operate his transactions if
weights can be put on either side of balance?

(a) 4 (b) 5 (c) 6 (d) 7

7. How many minimum weights the vendor requires to operate his transactions if
weights can be put on one side of balance only and he is free to take fractional
weights also?

(a) 4 (b) 5 (c) 6 (d) 7

8. How many minimum weights the vendor requires to operate his transactions if
weights can be put on either side of balance and he is free to take fractional weights
also?

(a) 3 (b) 4 (c) 5 (d) 6

9. You have to weigh all possible weights from 1 to 50 using a weighing balance (you
can put weights on only one side). What is the minimum number of weights you
need to weigh them? What are those weights? (Power of 2)

10. You have to weigh all possible weights from 1 to 50 using a common weighing
balance (you can put weights on both sides of the balance). What is the minimum
number of weights you need to weigh them? What are those weights? (Powers of
3)

11. You have a balance scale and 12 coins, 1 of which is counterfeit. The counterfeit
weigh less or more than the other coins. Can you determine the counterfeit in 3
weighing, and tell if it is heavier or lighter?

12 Dilip want to distribute 127 one-dollar bills among 7 wallets so that any integer sum
from 1 through 127 dollars can be paid without opening the wallets.