Solutions to the 12 Balls Problem

• curiouser.co.uk's graphic solution (15 KB PDF).
• The Daily Telegraph's graphic solution (not as good).
• Solution that was printed in the letters section of The Daily Telegraph

The following solution was submitted to curiouser.co.uk by Peter Harrison who is a regular contributor to the Sunday Times Teaser column in the Magazine:

The usual approach to solving this puzzle, by a process of elimination, is both clumsy and difficult to follow. How about this for a different approach!

Every weighing has three outcomes – Left side heavier (L), Balance (–) or Right side heavier (H) If there are three weighings, then there are a maximum of 3³ = 27 outcomes. We need only 24 (12 balls either heavier or lighter) to identify the odd ball and whether it is heavier or lighter.

So if we pre-plan the weighings we can plan for each ball to have a different outcome pattern which will therefore identify the offending ball.

First, number each ball from 1 to 12 and carry out three weighings as follows

First Weighing: 1, 2, 3, 4 in left hand pan and 5, 6, 7, 8 in right hand pan
Second Weighing: 1, 3, 5, 6 in left hand pan and 2, 9, 10, 11 in right hand pan
Third Weighing: 1, 4, 7, 10 in left hand pan and 2, 5, 11, 12 in right hand pan

This arrangement is planned so that that no two balls are weighed in exactly the same way so that if the balance tips to the left every time, then only ball number 1 could cause this, so culprit is ball 1 and heavier. If it tips to the right on the first and third weighings, then only ball 4 can be responsible and is lighter.

The outcomes can be summarised as follows:

L L L or (R R R) ~ Ball 1 & heavier (or lighter if outcome is the one shown in brackets)
L R R or (R L L) ~ Ball 2 & heavier (or lighter)
L L – or (R R –) ~ Ball 3 & heavier (or lighter)
L – L or (R – R) ~ Ball 4 & heavier (or lighter)
R L R or (L R L) ~ Ball 5 & heavier (or lighter)
R L – or (L R –) ~ Ball 6 & heavier (or lighter)
R – L or (L – R) ~ Ball 7 & heavier (or lighter)
R – – or (L – –) ~ Ball 8 & heavier (or lighter)
– R – or (– L –) ~ Ball 9 & heavier (or lighter)
– R L or (– L R) ~ Ball 10 & heavier (or lighter)
– R R or (– L L) ~ Ball 11 & heavier (or lighter)
– – R or (– – L) ~ Ball 12 & heavier (or lighter)