12 replies to this topic

[Kend0g187]

Here's another way of explaining how to find the solution:

Start with 1. Sum the total of your weights + the next number you need. Repeat.

Example:

1
Total of your weights: 1
Next number you need: 2
1+2=3

1,3
Total of your weights: 4
Next number you need: 5
4+5=9

1,3,9 ...

if you keep all the weights on one side of the scale, you need 9 different weights. 1, 2, 2, 6, 11, 11, 33, 55

You said 9, you listed 8, and you only need 7:

1,2,4,8,16,32,64

[jab]

Spoiler for Equation for series in solution

each number is sum of all previous numbers in the sequence * 2 + 1 until sum is > = 121

1, 2*1 +1 = 3, 2 * (1+3) + 1 = 9, 2*(1+3+9)+1 = 27, 2*(1+3+9+27) + 1 = 81

[Baywolfe]

We're talking about Ordinals here. What numbers (weights) do you need to add up to every number between 1 and 121?

The answer is 7: 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 32, & 64