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What is the minimum number of weights that you would need to be able to measure all weights from 1 kg to 1000 kg?

+3 votes
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You have a weighing balance, which you can place weights on both sides of. You need to measure all weights between 1 and 1000.

For example if you have weights 1 and 3, you can measure test objects of weights 1, 3 or 4. You can also measure objects of weight 2, by placing 3 on one side and 1 on the side which contain the object to be weighed.

What is the minimum number of weights that you would need to be able to measure all (integral) weights from 1 kg to 1000 kg?

posted Jun 14, 2016 by Upma

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2 Answers

+1 vote

1, 3, 9, 27, 81, 243, 729 kgs weights in different combinations will be able to weigh in the given range.
Like for 1000 kgs, 729 + 243 + 27 + 1 = 1000 kgs,
for 997 kgs, 729 + 243 + 27 + 1 on one pan & 3 kg on the other pan.

answer Jun 15, 2016 by Naveen Chopra
Hi Navin,
How did you find the logic behind this?
0 votes

This is simply the numbers 2^0,2^1,2^2 ... that is 1,2,4,8,16... So for making 1000 kg we need up to 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, and 512

answer Oct 20, 2020 by Mishthy Mukherjee



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