<p>Okay, so Ive found this puzzle (Its NOT homework mods!) and im trying to figure out how to solve it and ive been trying for the last three hours maybe more! anyway here it is: using an old fashioned nonelectronic scale, the type with the basket on each side where you compare the contents of each side, discover the counterfeit coin (weighs more or less than all of the others, which are equal in weight), out of the twelve that you have within three uses of the scale.</p>
<p>Let’s say the counterfeit coin weighs less than the real coins.
On the first try, put six coins in each basket. The lighter basket will have the fake coin.
On the second try, using the coins in the lighter basket, put three coins in each basket. Again, the lighter basket will have the fake coin.
On the third try, using the coins from the lighter basket, put one coin in each basket. If one basket has the fake coin, it will be lighter. If both baskets show equal weight, the coin that was not put in the basket is the fake one.</p>