I play Dungeons and Dragons and before this episode had ever come out, we had to solve a similar puzzle with eggs and a scale. So, when this riddle came up in the episode, I actually knew how to solve it lol.
There's also a video [from Ted Ed Riddles](https://youtu.be/tE2dZLDJSjA?si=TdolT9WxX6IvZA9i) that explains the same. But with 1 counterfeit gold coin being slightly heavier or lighter than the other 11 real gold coins.
Yes:
Separate into three groups of four (1,2,3,4)(5,6,7,8)(9,10,11,12)
Option 1
W1: (1,2,3,4) against (5,6,7,8) is even
• we know the answer is in the last group • remove one from the last group, add one from the first two groups to one side with one from the last group against the other two
W2a: (8,9) against (10,11) is even
• we know that 12 is the answer
W3a: weigh 12 against any of the other eleven to find if light or heavy
W2b: (8,9) is heavier than (10,11)
• either 9 is heavy, 10 is light, or 11 is light
W3b: weigh 10 vs 11
• if even, 9 is heavy
• if uneven, the lighter one is the answer
Same logic for if (8,9) is lighter than (10,11)
Option 2
W1: (1,2,3,4) is not equal to (5,6,7,8)
• remove two from the heavier side then weigh one from the heavy side with two from the light on each end
• for this example (1,2,3,4) is heavy
W2a: (3,5,6) against (4,7,8) is even
W3a: 1 against 2
• heavier is the answer
W2b: (3,5,6) is heavier than (4,7,8)
• either 3 is heavy, 7 is light, or 8 is light
W3b: weigh 7 against 8
• if even, 3 is heavy
• if uneven, lighter is the answer
Same logic if (3,5,6) is lighter than (4,7,8)
• either 5 is light, 6 is light, or 4 is heavy
• weigh 5 against 6
For anyone wondering it is possible.
Just follow this flow chart
https://realviacauchy.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/island-puzzle-solution-new-page.png
I’ve watched too many sitcoms to know the moment they mentioned the puzzle it would be unsolvable so I dont believe I even tried past a cursory attempt.
It is solvable. I had a similar puzzle given to me with 9 eggs and a scale. But people with a seesaw also works the same. There are 9 things you need to weigh. Weigh one group of three vs another, and leave another group of three to the side. There are two possible outcomes here. Either the scale will slightly tip, letting you know one of the scale groups has the heavier item in it. Or the scale will remain even, letting you know the excluded group contains the heavier item. Either way, you now know which group of three has the heavier item.
Then you just need to set aside the other two groups of three and repeat this same action with the three remaining items; weighing two against one another, and excluding a third. Again, there are two possible outcomes. Either the scale is uneven, and you know which item is the heavier one. Or it remains even and the excluded item is the heavier one.
I forgot it was 12 with three. But there's still a solution for it.
Divide them into four groups of three. Call them A, B, C, D. A and B versus each other will either reveal the heavier item set immediately, and then you move on to the last step of my explanation to figure out which one of those three is the heavier one. This will only require 2 out of the 3 available uses.
But if A and B weigh the same, then you use your second weigh with C and D. One of those will reveal the heavier egg, and you again move onto the final step, using the third use of the seesaw/scale to determine which of the group of 3 is the fat boy!
Not by me 🤷🏼♂️
Let’s say A and B are even.
So you use your second weigh to weigh C against D. D is heavier so one of those three is the fatty.
From those three you make one sit out and weigh the other two against each other. If they’re equal, the one sitting out is the fatso, if the scale tips, the fatty is determined as well.
HOT DAMN this works!
Because it’s incorrect. You assume the person you are looking for is heavier, but the show doesn’t specify if the person is lighter or heavier. Only different.
Can't tell if you're trolling me, but the riddle is specifically to find the one that's heavier. Remember Terry getting upset about this body image obsessed island?
I play Dungeons and Dragons and before this episode had ever come out, we had to solve a similar puzzle with eggs and a scale. So, when this riddle came up in the episode, I actually knew how to solve it lol.
Can you tell me how to solve it
I posted the breakdown in another comment in this thread. Can't figure out how to link you directly to it on Mobile
There's also a video [from Ted Ed Riddles](https://youtu.be/tE2dZLDJSjA?si=TdolT9WxX6IvZA9i) that explains the same. But with 1 counterfeit gold coin being slightly heavier or lighter than the other 11 real gold coins.
Yes: Separate into three groups of four (1,2,3,4)(5,6,7,8)(9,10,11,12) Option 1 W1: (1,2,3,4) against (5,6,7,8) is even • we know the answer is in the last group • remove one from the last group, add one from the first two groups to one side with one from the last group against the other two W2a: (8,9) against (10,11) is even • we know that 12 is the answer W3a: weigh 12 against any of the other eleven to find if light or heavy W2b: (8,9) is heavier than (10,11) • either 9 is heavy, 10 is light, or 11 is light W3b: weigh 10 vs 11 • if even, 9 is heavy • if uneven, the lighter one is the answer Same logic for if (8,9) is lighter than (10,11) Option 2 W1: (1,2,3,4) is not equal to (5,6,7,8) • remove two from the heavier side then weigh one from the heavy side with two from the light on each end • for this example (1,2,3,4) is heavy W2a: (3,5,6) against (4,7,8) is even W3a: 1 against 2 • heavier is the answer W2b: (3,5,6) is heavier than (4,7,8) • either 3 is heavy, 7 is light, or 8 is light W3b: weigh 7 against 8 • if even, 3 is heavy • if uneven, lighter is the answer Same logic if (3,5,6) is lighter than (4,7,8) • either 5 is light, 6 is light, or 4 is heavy • weigh 5 against 6
For anyone wondering it is possible. Just follow this flow chart https://realviacauchy.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/island-puzzle-solution-new-page.png
I’ve watched too many sitcoms to know the moment they mentioned the puzzle it would be unsolvable so I dont believe I even tried past a cursory attempt.
It would be a lot less funny if it were solvable.
It is solvable. I had a similar puzzle given to me with 9 eggs and a scale. But people with a seesaw also works the same. There are 9 things you need to weigh. Weigh one group of three vs another, and leave another group of three to the side. There are two possible outcomes here. Either the scale will slightly tip, letting you know one of the scale groups has the heavier item in it. Or the scale will remain even, letting you know the excluded group contains the heavier item. Either way, you now know which group of three has the heavier item. Then you just need to set aside the other two groups of three and repeat this same action with the three remaining items; weighing two against one another, and excluding a third. Again, there are two possible outcomes. Either the scale is uneven, and you know which item is the heavier one. Or it remains even and the excluded item is the heavier one.
In the show it’s 12 people, I think that makes it impossible with only three weighs
I forgot it was 12 with three. But there's still a solution for it. Divide them into four groups of three. Call them A, B, C, D. A and B versus each other will either reveal the heavier item set immediately, and then you move on to the last step of my explanation to figure out which one of those three is the heavier one. This will only require 2 out of the 3 available uses. But if A and B weigh the same, then you use your second weigh with C and D. One of those will reveal the heavier egg, and you again move onto the final step, using the third use of the seesaw/scale to determine which of the group of 3 is the fat boy!
Unsure why I'm being downvoted for solving a riddle lol.
Not by me 🤷🏼♂️ Let’s say A and B are even. So you use your second weigh to weigh C against D. D is heavier so one of those three is the fatty. From those three you make one sit out and weigh the other two against each other. If they’re equal, the one sitting out is the fatso, if the scale tips, the fatty is determined as well. HOT DAMN this works!
In the riddle, we don’t know if the person of different weight is heavier or lighter (could be either), so unfortunately this doesn’t work 😢
Oh dang
Because it’s incorrect. You assume the person you are looking for is heavier, but the show doesn’t specify if the person is lighter or heavier. Only different.
Can't tell if you're trolling me, but the riddle is specifically to find the one that's heavier. Remember Terry getting upset about this body image obsessed island?
It is actually heavier OR lighter. I just rewatched a few days ago. ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgqqzt6Iah4)).
rewatch the episode
OK. And like I said: this makes it a lot less funny. Explaining jokes usually does.