You have nine brass rings, but three are actually gold. Can you pick these out using a balance scale three times at the most?

(In reply to The answer is ... by Charlie)

Straight from the shoulder.  I've looked at the comment, still don't have time to go into the problem in depth, but I can only wonder why O.O.O asked the question "Can you pick these out using a balance scale three times at the most?"

If he knew that it could only be done in 4, why not nominate less that 5, or better still, "what is the least?"

Without further proof, by my own endeavours (which would mean studying Charlie's claims), or some other proof, I will put this aside as food for thought.

Posted by brianjn on 2005-06-23 13:45:59