A long time ago some ancients needed to make 5 weights that could weigh any amount of weight up to 121 grams.

The ancients though, had only a 1 gram weight and 120 grams of clay(which they would later make into weights. So with only a scale, 120 grams of clay and a 1 gram weight how would you create all the other weights needed to weigh any amount up to 121 grams?

What is the minimum amount of weighings required to do this?

(In reply to Posted Solution Not Minimum by Charlie)

why not easier:
split the 120 grams into 2 equal lots, both of sixty grams
put one aside then split the other one into 2 lots of 30 grams
put one aside then split the other one into 2 lots of 15 grams
put one aside then split the other one into 2 lots of 7.5 grams

is there something wrong with this solution?
Thanks , Irina

Posted by Irina on 2003-04-10 00:56:10