Problem

Source:

Tags: Grade 8, 1997



A banker learned that among similarly looking golden coins, exactly one is counterfeit and has less weight. The banker asked an expert to determine the coin by means of a balance, and demanded each coin should participate in no more than two weightings in order to not wear out the coin, thereby losing market value. What is the largest number of coins the banker could have had, given that the expert successfully completed his task?