For Geeks & Brainiacs #02- Counterfeit Coin -

Share this page on:

You are handed 12 identical looking coins (numbered 1 through 12) and a balance scale and are told that one of the coins is counterfeit. Luckily, the balance scale can reveal the counterfeit coin because its weight is slightly different than the weight of the other coins.

Your challenge is to identify which of the 12 coins is counterfeit with only 3 weighings.

Need a Hint?

See Answer

ANSWER: For the FIRST weighing, put coins 1, 2, 3, and 4 on one side and coins 5, 6, 7, and 8 on the other side. This will result in one of three scenarios:

Scenario 1: The scale is lower/heavier on the left.
You now know that one of the 8 coins being measured is counterfeit. You also know that if the counterfeit coin is on the left, it is heavier, and if it is on the right, it is lighter. Remaining possibilities for counterfeit coin: 1H, 2H, 3H, 4H, 5L, 6L, 7L, or 8L. For the SECOND weighing, put coins 1, 3, and 5 on the left and coins 2, 4, and 6 on the right. This will result in one of three scenarios:

Scenario 1A: The scale is lower/heavier on the left.
This signifies 1H, 3H, 5H, 2L, 4L, or 6L of which only 1H, 3H, or 6L are possible. You now know that the counterfeit coin is coin 1, 3, or 6. Remaining possibilities for counterfeit coin: 1H, 3H, or 6L. For the THIRD weighing, put coin 1 on the left and coin 3 on the right. If the scale is lower/heavier on the left, coin 1 is the counterfeit coin. If the scale is lower/heavier on the right, coin 3 is the counterfeit coin. If the scale is balanced, coin 6 is the counterfeit coin.

Scenario 1B: The scale is lower/heavier on the right.
This signifies 1L, 3L, 5L, 2H, 4H, or 6H of which only 5L, 2H, or 4H are possible. You now know that the counterfeit coin is coin 2, 4 or 5. Remaining possibilities for counterfeit coin: 2H, 4H, or 5L. For the THIRD weighing, put coin 2 on the left and coin 4 on the right. If the scale is lower/heavier on the left, coin 2 is the counterfeit coin. If the scale is lower/heavier on the right, coin 4 is the counterfeit coin. If the scale is balanced, coin 5 is the counterfeit coin.

Scenario 1C: The scale is balanced.
You now know that one of the two unweighed coins in the second weighing (coin 7 or 8)is counterfeit. Remaining possibilities for the counterfeit coin: 7L or 8L. For the THIRD weighing, put coin 7 on the left and coin 8 on the right. If the scale is lower/heavier on the left, coin 8 is the counterfeit coin. If the scale is heavier on the right, coin 7 is the counterfeit coin.

Scenario 2: The scale is lower/heavier on the right.
You now know that one of the 8 coins being measured is counterfeit. You also know that if the counterfeit coin is on the left, it is lighter, and if it is on the left, it is heavier. Remaining possibiilties for counterfeit coin: 1L, 2L, 3L, 4L, 5H, 6H, 7H, or 8H. For the SECOND weighing, put coins 1, 3, and 5 on the left and coins 2, 4, and 6 on the right. This will result in one of three scenarios:

Scenario 2A: The scale is lower/heavier on the left.
This signifies 1H, 3H, 5H, 2L, 4L, or 6L of which only 5H, 2L, or 4L are possible. You now knoe that the counterfeit coin is coin 2, 4, or 5. Remaining possibilities for counterfeit coin: 2L, 4L, or 5H. For the THIRD WEIGHING, put coin 2 on the left and coin 4 on the right. If the scale is lower/heavier on the left, coin 4 is the counterfeit coin. If the scale is lower/heavier on the right, coin 2 is the counterfeit coin. If the scale is balanced, coin 5 is the counterfeit coin.

Scenario 2B: The scale is lower/heavier on the right.
This signifies 1L, 3L, 5L, 2H, 4H, or 6H of which only 1L, 3L, or 6H are possible. You now know that the counterfeit coin is coin 1, 3 or 6. Remaining possibilities for counterfeit coin: 1L, 3L, or 6H. For the THIRD weighing, put coin 1 on the left and coin 3 on the right. If the scale is lower/heavier on the left, coin 3 is the counterfeit coin. If the scale is lower/heavier on the right, coin 1 is the counterfeit coin. If the scale is balanced, coin 6 is the counterfeit coin.

Scenario 2C: The scale is balanced.
You now know that one of the two unweighed coins in the second weighing (coin 7 or 8) is counterfeit. Remaining possibilities for the counterfeit coin: 7H or 8H. For the THIRD weighing, put coin 7 on the left and coin 8 on the right. If the scale is lower/heavier on the left, coin 7 is the counterfeit coin. If the scale is heavier on the right, coin 8 is the counterfeit coin.

Scenario 3: The scale is balanced.
You now know that one of unweighed coins is counterfeit (coin 9, 10, 11, or 12). Remaining possibilities for counterfeit coin: 9H, 9L, 10H, 10L, 11H, 11L, 12H, or 12L. For the SECOND weighing, put coins 1 and 9 on the left and coins 10 and 11 on the right. This will results in one of three scenarios:

Scenario 3A: The scale is lower/heavier on the left.
This signifies 1H, 9H, 10L, or 11L of which only 9H, 10L, or 11L are possible. You now know that the counterfeit coin is coin 9, 10, or 11. Remaining possibilities for counterfeit coin: 9H, 10L, or 11L. For the THIRD weighing, put coin 10 on the left and coin 11 on the right. If the scale is lower/heavier on the left, coin 11 is the counterfeit coin. If the scale is lower/heavier on the right, coin 10 is counterfeit coin. If the scale is balanced, coin 9 is the counterfeit coin.

Scenario 3B: The scale is lower/heavier on the right.
This signifies 1L, 9L, 10H, or 11H of which only 9L, 10H, or 11H are possible. You now know that the counterfeit coin is coin 9, 10, or 11. Remaining possibilities for counterfeit coin: 9L, 10H, or 11H. For the THIRD weighing, put coin 10 on the left and coin 11 on the right. If the scale is lower/heavier on the left, coin 10 is the counterfeit coin. If the scale is lower/heavier on the right, coin 11 is counterfeit coin. If the scale is balanced, coin 9 is the counterfeit coin.

Scenario 3C: The scale is balanced.
Coin 12 is the counterfeit coin.

NOTE: The letter H or L next to coin in the scenarios above signify a heavy or light counterfeit coin.

Do you have a suggestion for this puzzle (e.g. something that should be mentioned/clarified in the question or solution, bug, typo, etc.)?

<- Previous puzzle | Next puzzle ->

Click here to return to the list of puzzles