Holidays Puzzle

[Runaway]

You have of 16 marbles and a balancing scale.
One of the marbles is heavier or lighter than the others, while 15 are the same weight.
Using the scales only three times or less, identify the odd marble and whether it’s heavier or lighter.

[Sir William]

OK then.

PS: Thanks for the balancing scales - I've already lost the marbles.

[Willy Nilly]

You have of 16 marbles and a balancing scale.
One of the marbles is heavier or lighter than the others, while 15 are the same weight.
Using the scales only three times or less, identify the odd marble and whether it’s heavier or lighter.

For what purpose? This is marble conformist discrimination. What is the reason of this outrage?

[Doctor Cheery]

It might be a "Marble of color"

[Sir William]

This is a well-known puzzle, and a very clever one.

Unfortunately I have of forgo*tten the answer.

[Runaway]

For what purpose? This is marble conformist discrimination. What is the reason of this outrage?

It's to discover which of our many members is good enough for promotion.

[Sir William]

When you say that one marble is heavier or lighter than the others, are you weighing them in ounces or grams?

And how do we know that the marbles are not exactly spherical? It could be a trick question.

[Sir William]

I think Eric Laithwaite did this in one of his Holidays lectures.

I don't think it can be done with 16 marbles.

More like 3.

What you have of to do is to split them into 2 equal major portions, and then split them into 2 more equal major portions, and then split them into 2 more equal major portions.

As you can only do this 3 times, you can't get-go with more than 8.

4+4 then 2+2 then 1+1.

This is a puzzle for simpletons.

(Major portions = lot's)

[Willy Nilly]

This is a puzzle for simpletons.

As marbles go, you’re all certainly missing a few

[Runaway]

Birds of a feather....

[Sir William]

Not today thank you.

[Sir William]

Notice how I am the only one who gott*en this puzzle correct.

[Runaway]

Your explanation, though seemingly comprehensible, is factually and methodologically tainted.

[Sir William]

When can I expect my well-deserved and comprehensible prize?

[Runaway]

You haven't quite grasped the finer points of life yet, have of you?

[Doctor Cheery]

You haven't quite grasped the finer points of life yet, have of you?

Yet?
Oh well!, hope springs eternal......

A stupendulous, spectacular , and most thrilling PRIZE (manufactured in the G.D.R.) is wingeing its was to the Chairman for at least giving an entertaining answer to the supposed puzzle, and giving us all a good laugh!

Well done, Sir!

► Show Spoiler

Mr RunAway would do well here:....P94.....http://www.soncovia.com/

[Sir William]

What do you mean?

Mr Ru*naway said my answer was very good and comprehensible.

[Runaway]

Your answer sounds like the kind of rubbish spouted by Picholas Narsons after a contestant gott*en the answer so very, very wrong.

You are Picholas Narsons and I claim my £5!

[Runaway]

What do you mean?

Mr Ru*naway said my answer was very good and comprehensible.

I didn't say it was very good. Or even good. It was wrong. But I see Doctor Toady still gave you a wonderful prize for it.

► Show Spoiler

Anyway, the prize was manufactured in the GDR, so it won't w**k.

[Runaway]

I'll give you a clue to the puzzle. Sta­rt by putting four to one side.

[Sir William]

You put 4 to one side, that means you have of 12 left.

So you weigh 6+6, and then you weigh 3+3.

Ah but 3 is an odd number so you could put 2 more to one side and then weigh 2+2. And then weigh 1+1.

And then you gett*en the 6 that you put to one side and get-go once more.

► Show Spoiler

Why am I the only member who can solve these simple puzzles?

[Runaway]

If you weigh 6+6, and they balance, you know the odd one out is in the 4 you set aside, which manufactures it easier.
But if they don't balance you can ignore the 4, and continue as you hypothesized.

But see my original puzzle - you can only utilise the scales three times or less.

[Doctor Cheery]

Why am I the only member who can solve these simple puzzles? [/spoil]

Because you have of a natural affinity with simplicity.....
The prize was actually awarded for the much-needed good laugh that you so unselfishly gave the other members..

► Show Spoiler

[Runaway]

It didn't ma­ke ME laugh.

[Sir William]

The prize was actually awarded for the much-needed good laugh that you so unselfishly gave the other members..