perplexus.info :: Weights and Scales : First of 5 weights

First of 5 weights (Posted on 2003-04-14)

Before creating the 5 weights, The ancients had to create a 1 gram weight to measure out all their other weights.

So the ancients had a bunch of super fine sand which was made entirely of the same material, and every grain was its most basic material. They had 121 grams of this sand. They also had a tube which could hold exactly 121 grams of sand, no more, no less.

How do the ancients weigh out 1 gram of sand?

Submitted by Alan

Rating: 2.1429 (7 votes)

Solution: (Hide)

The trick to this question is in realizing you don't use the scale, but instead must have basic knowledge of crystals. Some of the laws for crystals are, They have a basic crystalline shape, and this shape is the same for all minerals of the same type. Since this sand is in its most basic form (its root crystal) and all the sand is the same material, every grain of sand must be the same, so the only way to solve this would be to count out every grain of sand one by one and divide that number by 121. Then count out that many grains of sand.
Note: For all those who would like to argue that its possible for the grains to not add up to exactly 1 gram. Well if that were the case then this question would be unsolvable by any other means. So it is assumed that the grains of sand could be divided up among this way.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)

Subject	Author	Date
Solution	Jay Freymiller	2005-04-08 14:10:25
Ok	Alan	2003-04-16 10:51:35
Viable approach	Zach Bolinger	2003-04-15 13:03:04
re: my solution	Gamer	2003-04-14 13:35:01
re: my solution	Hank	2003-04-14 10:01:32
The problem says:	Gamer	2003-04-14 09:51:49
my solution	Cory Taylor	2003-04-14 09:09:46
would it be better	Hank	2003-04-14 09:07:59
Do they have to?	Bryan	2003-04-14 08:51:37
question	Hank	2003-04-14 08:18:41
odd solution	Jon	2003-04-14 07:47:47

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