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Home -> Community -> Usenet -> c.d.o.server -> Re: Interview Question-- Marble puzzle
Maybe I'm a little slow, but I still don't get it.
phil chang wrote:
> Darn, I didn't review my answer carefully enough before I sent it out before.
> Here's the correct answer.
>
> Divide the marbles into 3 groups of 4. Call them A, B, and C.
>
> Measure A against B.
>
> If they balance, the odd marble is in group C, and the solution from there is
> straightforward. Measure any 2 in C.
so measuring C1 vs. C2.
> If they balance, one of the remaining
> C's is the one. The 1 remaining weighing will tell us which one it is.
now I'm measuring C3 vs. C4. The weighing tells me C3 and C4 have unequal weights. How do I know that it's C3 that's heavier or C4 that's lighter? (Since we don't know if the odd marble is heavier or lighter)
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-- ___ ___ (___)=============================================================(___) | | Jacques Raymond Kilchoer MIS:Applications Support | | | | Assistant DBA /^\ ^ (714) 729-4500 x3733 | | | | Cost Care, Inc. /\ _/ \/ \ fax 729-4651 | | | | Newport Beach /\ /\/ \// \ \_/\ | | | | CA 92660 / \ / / \ / \ Suisse/Schweizer | | |___| ____/____\____/_________\___ _\_______ Svizzero |___| (___)=============================================================(___)Received on Tue Jul 01 1997 - 00:00:00 CDT