Assume an old-fashioned scale balance in which weights can be placed on either side. The associated set of weights (each of which is greater than zero) is 'complete' for some W if it is capable of measuring all integer weights from 1 to W.
Clearly it is possible for such sets to exist even if no combination of the weights themselves can be balanced against any combination of the remaining weights - the set {1,2,4,8..} is just one such example.
On the other hand, the set {1,1,2,4} is also 'self-measuring', because, assuming that one of the weights were unmarked, a stranger could neverthless establish its value by weighing it in the scales with the others.
Question: You are allowed 5 weights. They must form a set which is complete, and also self-measuring.
What is the largest possible value of W, given these constraints?
Bonus: What is the largest possible value of W, if 8 weights are allowed?
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