Talk:Balance puzzle
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Merger proposal
[edit]I see the article Eight ball problem which is very similar (only different variant) with the more general article, Balance puzzle. I propose that "Eight ball problem" to be merged with "Balance puzzle". -- Chaotic iak (talk) 12:04, 22 January 2011 (UTC)
Self-contradiction?
[edit]The article states (with citation) that n weighings are sufficient to find a bad coin among (3^n − 1)/2 coins, but then goes on to show that two weighings are sufficient for nine coins, three for 27 coins, and four for 81 coins (in other words, n weighings are sufficient for 3^n coins). Perhaps the first formula is for a more general problem than the one being discussed, but that isn't clear at all from the text. Does anyone know the story here? MrRK (talk) 19:56, 3 August 2017 (UTC)
Information gain strategy
[edit]As described in the late David MacKay lecture about information theory, one strategy to solving the puzzle is looking at entropy (average information gain) and trying to maximize it as much as possible. This is perhaps the explanation for the generalized "base-three numbering" technique, and the actual solution given (for the 12 coins problem) follows it as well, as every weighing maximizes the entropy. I have heard this puzzle a few times, and it was always in regards to entropy - yet this term never comes up in the article, which I think is a big miss.
14 coins in 3 weights
[edit]I found a solution to 14 coins in 3 weights, where the target coin is different from others. The trick is to divide two coins in half so you can compare 4 and 5 coins. Check it out here: https://math.stackexchange.com/a/3948327/101178
The redirect Definitive solution to the counterfeit coin problem has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2023 June 24 § Definitive solution to the counterfeit coin problem until a consensus is reached. Muhandes (talk) 23:01, 24 June 2023 (UTC)
The redirect Definitive Solution to the Counterfeit Coin Problem has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2023 July 2 § Definitive Solution to the Counterfeit Coin Problem until a consensus is reached. Jay 💬 08:09, 2 July 2023 (UTC)