Problem

Source: Tournament of Towns,Spring 2002, Junior O Level, P5

Tags: combinatorics proposed, combinatorics



There are $128$ coins of two different weights, $64$ each. How can one always find two coins of different weights by performing no more than $7$ weightings on a regular balance? There are $8$ coins of two different weights, $4$ each. How can one always find two coins of different weights by performing two weightings on a regular balance?