Among 16 coins there are 8 heavy coins with weight of 11 g, and 8 light coins with weight of 10 g, but it's unknown what weight of any coin is. One of the coins is anniversary. How to know, is anniversary coin heavy or light, via three weighings on scales with two cups and without any weight?
Problem
Source: All-Russian Math Olympiad 2019
Tags: ARMO
11.08.2019 06:26
Let $A$ be the anniversary coin. Select random 6 coins and denote them by set $S$. First, set $A$ and $S$ on the left side and randomly choose 7 coins on the right side of the scale. <1. Equal> Let $B, C$ be the coin that is not used on previous weighing. From the 'Equal' of the first weighing, $B$ and $C$ have same weight. Secondly, weigh $A$ and $B$. If not equal, we know the weight of $A$ and $B$. If equal, $A, B, C$ have same weight. From two 'Eqaul' from first and second weighing, we can know that $S$ is consists of 4 coins different from $A$ and 2 coins same as $A$. Finally, weight $A, B, C$ and random 3 coins from $S$. Then $S$ must contains coin different from $A$ and the weighing result is equal to weighing result of $A$ and the other type coin. So we get the weight of $A$. <2. Not Equal> Secondly, Choose coin $B$ in $S$ and weight it with $A$. Again, we only care when the result is 'Equal'. Finally, Choose coin $C, D$ in $S$ and weight it with $A, B$. If not equal, the result is same as $A$'s weight. If equal, not that the left side of first weighing has 4 coins weight same as $A$.(including $A$) Thus, if left side was lighter, $A$ is the light coin and else $A$ is the heavy coin. From 1 and 2, three weighing is enough to know the weight of the anniversary coin.