Mistake at the Apple Farm Puzzle - Solution
The Puzzle:
• There are 10 baskets containing apples.
• There are various amounts of apples in each basket ranging from 10 to 20.
• 9 of the baskets contain apples weighing 4 ounces each.
• 1 of the baskets contains apples weighing 5 ounces each.
• All the apples look the same.
• The equipment you have is a set of scales and an empty basket.
• It is late and the truck is waiting to take the apples to market. You only have time to make one measurement using the scales.
Our Solution:It could work something like this:
Number Each Basket from 1 to 10.
Select 1 Apple from basket 1
Select 2 Apples from basket 2
etc..
You will now have (1+2+...+10) = 55 Apples
If they all weighed 4 oz, then the scales would show 55x4=220 oz.
But if the weight was, say, 225 oz, then you would know that there 5 apples that weigh an extra ounce, so the basket with the heavier apples must be basket 5.
Number Each Basket from 1 to 10.
Select 1 Apple from basket 1
Select 2 Apples from basket 2
etc..
You will now have (1+2+...+10) = 55 Apples
If they all weighed 4 oz, then the scales would show 55x4=220 oz.
But if the weight was, say, 225 oz, then you would know that there 5 apples that weigh an extra ounce, so the basket with the heavier apples must be basket 5.