Drexel dragonThe Math ForumDonate to the Math Forum

The Math Forum Internet Mathematics Library

The Counterfeit Coin

_____________________________________
Library Home || Full Table of Contents || Suggest a Link || Library Help
_____________________________________

Visit this site: http://www.maa.org/mathland/mathtrek_2_16_98.html
Author:Ivars Peterson (MathTrek)
Description: The classic puzzle of the counterfeit coin has long served as a stiff test of one's reasoning power and ingenuity. In its standard form, the problem concerns 12 coins identical in size, shape, and appearance. One coin, however, is counterfeit, having a slightly different weight than the other 11 coins. Using only a two-pan balance, what is the smallest number of weighings that would guarantee that you would find the counterfeit coin?
Levels: Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College
Languages: English
Resource Types: Problems/Puzzles, Articles
Math Topics: Algorithms, Logic/Foundations

[Privacy Policy] [Terms of Use]

_____________________________________
Home || The Math Library || Quick Reference || Search || Help
_____________________________________

© 1994-2012 Drexel University. All rights reserved.
http://mathforum.org/
 The Math Forum is a research and educational enterprise of the Goodwin College of Professional Studies.The Math Forum is a research and educational enterprise of the Goodwin College of Professional Studies.