Okay let's try again, first divide the 12 balls into 3 groups.....let's name them AAAA, BBBB & CCCC
% |9 ~0 h7 A# B+ `5.39.217.76
$ @0 v, w8 ~" g7 G/ w/ e. {( h( vFirst weight....AAAA ^ BBBB, if balance, then problem in C balls, see my post above. If not balance, continue below.tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb& R( ~9 N( ~" m7 a. R: L
2 C9 \$ ]$ L- J2 @. @# ktvb now,tvbnow,bttvbFrom the first weight, let's say AAAA is heavier then BBBB, then either the problem ball is heavier among AAAA, or lighter among BBBB, but all C balls are normal.
! Y9 ^4 X4 A' B; H' A( ^
2 N) T7 Z+ r/ g# f9 _# l3 ttvb now,tvbnow,bttvb2nd weight....AAAB ^ ACCC, there will be 3 scenarios:
; K8 m3 A2 V8 B' p" A5.39.217.76(1) if AAAB is heavier then ACCC, for sure the problem ball is a heavier ball and it's among AAA. Take 2 of these and weight against each other, the heavier ball is the problem, if balance then it's the remaining ball.
3 i/ B5 ^/ G7 Z; V(2) if ACCC is heavier then AAAB then weight the A ball in ACCC against a normal C ball, if balance then the problem ball is the B ball in AAAB and it's a lighter ball. If heavier then this is the problem ball. (note it cannot be lighter)
$ v5 @4 x. ~/ o1 c1 a6 V(3) if balance then the problem ball is one of the 3 B balls not touched in the 2nd weight and it's a lighter ball. Take 2 of these B balls and weight against each other. If balance then the other B ball is the problem. If not balance then the lighter ball is the problem. |