SOLUTION: I have six billiard balls, one of which weighs less than the other five. Otherwise, they all look exactly the same. How can I identify the one that weighs less on a balance scale w

Question 1144625: I have six billiard balls, one of which weighs less than the other five. Otherwise, they all look exactly the same. How can I identify the one that weighs less on a balance scale with only two weighings?
Answer by ikleyn(52778) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

(1)  First weighting


     Put 3 ball to one side of the balance scale and 3 other balls to the other side.


    In this way you determine which group of the two is lighter : this group contains the lighter ball.



(2)  Second weighting


     From the lighter group of the 3 balls put one ball to one side of balance scale and one ball to the other side.


    If the scale is in equilibrium, it means that the lighter ball is the third ball of this group.


    If the scale is not in the equilibrium, than you can determine which ball of the two on the scale is lighter.

Solved, explained and answered.

It is a classic entertainment problem. Good to develop and exercise your mind from 5 to 75 years.

In this site, you can find other similar problems in the lesson
- Some logic problems

Come again soon to learn something new (!)

RELATED QUESTIONS
A bag contains 15 billiard balls, numbers consecutively from 1 to 15. Six balls are... (answered by Edwin McCravy,edjones)

use the rack of 15 billiard balls shown.If one ball is selected at random, determine the... (answered by chessace)

I have 5 balls I can arrange the balls in 1 group of 5 balls (5) If a I divide the 5... (answered by Edwin McCravy)

Please help with this problem. I have tried to look at other similar problems to help... (answered by vleith)

A bag contains five balls, numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Another bag contains six balls... (answered by greenestamps)

a bag contains five balls numbered 1,2,3,4,5.Another bag contains six balls... (answered by Fombitz)

A bag contains five balls numbered 1,2,3,4,5. Another bag contains six balls numbered... (answered by Fombitz,CharlesG2)

the recipe says I need exactly four cups of sugar and I only have two containers. One... (answered by Fombitz)

Five pears and one apple weigh the same as three pears and five apples. Which weighs... (answered by Alan3354)