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imarshad
14-01-08, 08:08 AM
Assalam u Alaikum,
I live in a village and I am a shopkeeper. I sell rice sold in complete kg's ( i.e 1 kg, 12 kg etc. i.e only whole numbers). The problem is that I don't have an electronic weighing machine and only have a traditional weighing machine (with two panels).
A friend of mine has told that I need only "4 different weights" to sell my rice if they are to be sold in the range of 1 to 40 kg. This is perfectly acceptable to me. Can you guess those 4 weights that I need to have so that I can weight anything between 1-40 kg? I am not allowed to use the weighing machine twice to weight a single request. i.e If someone wants to have 37 kg. of rice I will use these four weights (or less) to weigh 37 kg. of rice for him and not use the the weigh machine twice.

Ibn Al-Jarrah
14-01-08, 11:23 AM
You only need enough to know how much a grain of rice weighs, then u can count out how many kilos you need:up:

seriously though, are you allowed to use the more of the same weight? e.g. 2x20Kg weights? Then you would only need 3: 1, 5, 10Kg

Al-Farooq
14-01-08, 12:43 PM
I have seen this one before, so I wont answer, but I will give you a clue...

The key to solving this problem is remembering that you can put weights on BOTH sides of the weighing machine.

Al-Farooq
14-01-08, 10:09 PM
I'll put you out of your misery....:)

The four weights are 1kg, 3kg, 9kg and 27kg.

Can you work out how it's done? It's fairly simple mathematics.

How do you weigh out 15kg, for example?

imarshad
15-01-08, 03:28 AM
I'll put you out of your misery....:)

The four weights are 1kg, 3kg, 9kg and 27kg.

Can you work out how it's done? It's fairly simple mathematics.

How do you weigh out 15kg, for example?

Yep this is the correct answer.... Unfortunately not many of our Ummah are interested in Mathematics....:(:(... At least not here in this forum....

Al-Farooq
15-01-08, 03:52 AM
Yep this is the correct answer.... Unfortunately not many of our Ummah are interested in Mathematics....:(:(... At least not here in this forum....

It's disappointing isn't it - I have always loved attempting to work out problems such as these, it's a really effective mental exercise and can help increase brain power.

Ah well, it's the way the world is going. *shrug* Most people seem to be more interested in instant gratification, rather than prolonged thought processes.

Jazak'Allah khair for posting.:)