Friday's Fun Contest Results

There were several people who got the answer correct for this contest.  I thought this would be the hardest one but what do I know.  You people are too good for me so I'll stop while I'm behind.

The winner who got the correct solution the fastest was:

Kevin C. - Greater Indianapolis Chapter.

And his correct solution:

• Leave 2 Gems off the balance (doesn't matter which two)
• Equally distribute the remaining Gems on the balance (three on each side)
  Outcome A : group 1 and group 2 balance
  Outcome B : One group is heavier than the other
  
  If Outcome A:
  • Place two Gems on balance
  • Select heaviest Gem
    

  If outcome B:

  • Leave 1 Gem off the balance (doesn't matter which)
  • Place remaining Gems on the scale (A and B)
  • Outcome A: Two Gems balance C is heaviest
  • Outcome B: One Gem is heavier Select heaviest Gem
     

Thanks one and alll for playing along, it was fun!!

Norm Mendenhall

There was only ONE winner who got the answer correct in Wednesday's contest (other than Patrick and he wasn't eligible to win since he got the puzzle early).  And the winner is...

Jim G. from the Mt. Rushmore Chapter. 

Congratulations Jim.  And the correct solution is...

Take your free checker from the box marked M.

If it is red then all in that box are red, and the box marked R must be all black and the box marked B must be mixed.

If it is black then all in the box must be black, and the box marked R must be mixed and the box marked B must be filled with red checkers.

Now on to today's puzzle.  Things are getting tougher today.

You have eight (8) gem stones which all LOOK alike. But you know that one is just a little bit heavier than the other seven. Your job is to determine which gem is the heaviest.

In order to do this, you have a balance (not a scale but the old fashioned balance that you see the blind justice lady holding up). This is the only tool you have to find out which gem it is. The trick is that you only get to use the balance TWICE to come up with the solution.

Describe in detail each step you use to accomplish this feat and how you finally know which one is heaviest.

This may be the last one of these I'll have time for.  But I'll at least have the winner and solution tomorrow.

Norm Mendenhall
Probe Web Team Member