I knew that the weights needed to add up to 40 lbs (or more).
I knew that I could add weights to either side of the scale.
I suspected that I only needed to use whole numbers (no fractions).
I suspected all the numbers should be odd.
I suspected no number would be used twice.
I suspected one of the numbers should be 1.
I suspected that the weights should add up to 40 lbs.
Therefore 3 of the weights needed to add up to 39 lbs.
3, 5, 31
3, 7, 29
3, 9, 27
There it was.
Jerry Johnson
>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 11/03/03 12:51PM >>>
that is what I am asking. I understand that 1,3,9, and 27 have a common
factor
of 3 however not sure how one would have come up with that and if in
fact
there was an easy way of finding it out.
This is truly a puzzle of the minds...
>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 11/03/03 12:39PM >>>
That was hard.
Is there some math formula that would have made this easier? Did I miss
something in school?
Jerry Johnson
>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 11/03/03 09:41AM >>>
He uses his thumb.
Not the mathematically correct answer, but it's how butchers and
grocers
used to get themselves some extra money.
-Kevin
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 4:05 PM
Subject: Math Puzzle
> I have a math puzzle that I can not figure out
> and was wondering if anyone has heard of it:
>
> You go to a Butcher shop who has one of the old
> style weight scales. Not a digital one. One that
> just events out.
>
> You have 4 weights of any size (only 4 weights)
> the butcher must use those 4 weights to provide
> 1 lbs of beef up to 40 lbs of beef.
>
> He should be able to deleiver the desired amount
> (1-40lbs) at anytime. What are the 4 weight values?
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
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