I did not get the solution to the gold and fake gold problem before the TV show ended, but I did see an error in a few minutes after the "solution" was provided. Here is an example where the solution does not work:
Suppose there are 16 sacks, and sack 1 to 15 contain gold while sack 16 contains fake gold. As on tv, the fake gold weighs 1 oz and gold weighs 1 lb.. Following the tv method, we take one item from bag 1, 1 lb, 2 from bag 2, 2lbs, and so on. When we get to bag 16, the 16 pieces weigh 16 oz or I lb. The total weight is 1 + 2 + 3. + 4. +. ... + 15 + 1 = 121 lbs. In 121 there is no 16 to indicate that bag 16 has fake gold. You might try 32 bags where bag 32 has fake gold.
If we only have 15 bags, the tv solution does work. If gold weighs 1 lb and fake gold weighs pi oz, then the tv solution works. Here pi = 3.14159... as in Circumference = 2 pi r. If you round pi, the tv solution fails.
I always enjoy Colombo, and this is among my favorite. The Colombo character and mannerisms always make me smile
.It would be interesting to know where this gold problem comes from. It is not very hard to see errors in the tv solution. The tv solution fails because 16 oz = 1 lb.
What do Colombo, Matlock, Reacher, Kojack, McCloud, ... have in common?
I hope I don t have any errors.
Suppose there are 16 sacks, and sack 1 to 15 contain gold while sack 16 contains fake gold. As on tv, the fake gold weighs 1 oz and gold weighs 1 lb.. Following the tv method, we take one item from bag 1, 1 lb, 2 from bag 2, 2lbs, and so on. When we get to bag 16, the 16 pieces weigh 16 oz or I lb. The total weight is 1 + 2 + 3. + 4. +. ... + 15 + 1 = 121 lbs. In 121 there is no 16 to indicate that bag 16 has fake gold. You might try 32 bags where bag 32 has fake gold.
If we only have 15 bags, the tv solution does work. If gold weighs 1 lb and fake gold weighs pi oz, then the tv solution works. Here pi = 3.14159... as in Circumference = 2 pi r. If you round pi, the tv solution fails.
I always enjoy Colombo, and this is among my favorite. The Colombo character and mannerisms always make me smile
.It would be interesting to know where this gold problem comes from. It is not very hard to see errors in the tv solution. The tv solution fails because 16 oz = 1 lb.
What do Colombo, Matlock, Reacher, Kojack, McCloud, ... have in common?
I hope I don t have any errors.