The 5-Way Scale

arXiv1903.04900MaRDI QIDQ6315461FDOQ6315461

Authors: Tanya Khovanova, Joshua Lee 

Publication date: 8 March 2019

Abstract: In this paper, we discuss coin-weighing problems that use a 5-way scale which has five different possible outcomes: MUCH LESS, LESS, EQUAL, MORE, and MUCH MORE. The 5-way scale provides more information than the regular 3-way scale. We study the problem of finding two fake coins from a pile of identically looking coins in a minimal number of weighings using a 5-way scale. We discuss similarities and differences between the 5-way and 3-way scale. We introduce a strategy for a 5-way scale that can find both counterfeit coins among $2^k$ coins in $k+1$ weighings, which is better than any strategy for a 3-way scale.

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Enumerative combinatorics (05A99) Recreational mathematics (00A08)

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