Let $N$ be a positive integer. It is given set of weights which satisfies following conditions: $i)$ Every weight from set has some weight from $1,2,...,N$; $ii)$ For every $i\in {1,2,...,N}$ in given set there exists weight $i$; $iii)$ Sum of all weights from given set is even positive integer. Prove that set can be partitioned into two disjoint sets which have equal weight

Teacher has 100 weights with masses $1$ g, $2$ g, $\dots$, $100$ g. He wants to give 30 weights to Petya and 30 weights to Vasya so that no 11 Petya's weights have the same total mass as some 12 Vasya's weights, and no 11 Vasya's weights have the same total mass as some 12 Petya's weights. Can the teacher do that?

We have 101 coins and a two-pan scale. In one weighing, we can compare the weights of two coins. What is the smallest number of weighings required in order to decide whether there exist 51 coins which all have the same weight?

$100$ weights, measuring $1,2, ..., 100$ grams, respectively, are placed in the two pans of a scale such that the scale is balanced. Prove that two weights can be removed from each pan such that the equilibrium is not broken.

We have $n{}$ coins, one of which is fake, which differs in weight from the real ones and a two-pan scale which works correctly if the weights on the pans are different, but can show any outcome if the weights on the pans are equal. For what $n{}$ can we determine which coin is fake and whether it is lighter or heavier than the real coins, in at most $k{}$ weightings? [i]Proposed by A. Zaslavsky[/i]

Six people, with distinct weights, want to form a triangular position where there are three people in the bottom row, two in the middle row, and one in the top row, and each person in the top two rows must weigh less than both of their supports. How many distinct formations are there?

Seven identical-looking coins are given, of which four are real and three are counterfeit. The three counterfeit coins have equal weight, and the four real coins have equal weight. It is known that a counterfeit coin is lighter than a real one. In one weighing, one can select two sets of coins and check which set has a smaller total weight, or if they are of equal weight. How many weightings are needed to identify one counterfeit coin?

Given $6$ balls: $2$ white, $2$ green, $2$ red, it is known that there is a white, a green and a red that weigh $99$ g each and that the other balls weigh $101$ g each. Determine the weight of each ball using two times a two-plate scale . Clarification: A two-pan scale only reports if the left pan weighs more than, equal to or less than the right.

We are given five equal-looking weights of pairwise distinct masses. For any three weights $A$, $B$, $C$, we can check by a measuring if $m(A) < m(B) < m(C)$, where $m(X)$ denotes the mass of a weight $X$ (the answer is [i]yes[/i] or [i]no[/i].) Can we always arrange the masses of the weights in the increasing order with at most nine measurings?

There are $256$ lumps of metal that have different weights in pairs. With the help of a beam balance , one may now compare every two lumps. Find the smallest number $m$ such that you can be sure to find the heaviest as well as the lightest lump with the weighing process.

We are given a balance with two bowls and a number of weights. (a) Give an example of four integer weights using which one can measure any weight of $1,2,...,40$ grams. (b) Are there four weights using which one can measure any weight of $1,2,...,50$ grams?

Consider a $N\times N$ square board where $N\geq 3$ is an odd integer. The caterpillar Carl sits at the center of the square; all other cells contain distinct positive integers. An integer $n$ weights $1\slash n$ kilograms. Carl wants to leave the board but can eat at most $2$ kilograms. Determine whether Carl can always find a way out when a) $N=2003.$ b) $N$ is an arbitrary odd integer.

Let $S$ be the sum of integer weights that come with a two pan balance Scale, say $\omega_1 \le \omega_2 \le \omega_3 \le ... \le\omega_n$. Show that all integer-weighted objects in the range $1$ to $S$ can be weighed exactly if and only if $\omega_1=1$ and $$\omega_{j+1} \le 2 \left( \sum_{l=1}^{j} \omega_l\right) +1$$

Let $n > 0$ be an integer. We are given a balance and $n$ weights of weight $2^0, 2^1, \cdots, 2^{n-1}$. We are to place each of the $n$ weights on the balance, one after another, in such a way that the right pan is never heavier than the left pan. At each step we choose one of the weights that has not yet been placed on the balance, and place it on either the left pan or the right pan, until all of the weights have been placed. Determine the number of ways in which this can be done. [i]Proposed by Morteza Saghafian, Iran[/i]

It is known that in a set of five coins three are genuine (and have the same weight) while two coins are fakes, each of which has a different weight from a genuine coin. What is the smallest number of weighings on a scale with two cups that is needed to locate one genuine coin?

We are given $n>1$ piles of coins. There are two different types of coins: real and fake coins; they all look alike, but coins of the same type have the same mass, while the coins from different types have different masses. Coins that belong to the same pile are of the same type. We know the mass of real coin. Find the minimal number of weightings on digital scale that we need in order to conclude: which piles consists of which type of coins and also the mass of fake coin. (We assume that every pile consists from infinite number of coins.)

Fix a positive integer $n$ and a finite graph with at least one edge; the endpoints of each edge are distinct, and any two vertices are joined by at most one edge. Vertices and edges are assigned (not necessarily distinct) numbers in the range from $0$ to $n-1$, one number each. A vertex assignment and an edge assignment are [i]compatible[/i] if the following condition is satisfied at each vertex $v$: The number assigned to $v$ is congruent modulo $n$ to the sum of the numbers assigned to the edges incident to $v$. Fix a vertex assignment and let $N$ be the total number of compatible edge assignments; compatibility refers, of course, to the fixed vertex assignment. Prove that, if $N \neq 0$, then the prime divisors of $N$ are all at most $n$.

Ana has an iron material of mass $20.2$ kg. She asks Bilyana to make $n$ weights to be used in a classical weighning scale with two plates. Bilyana agrees under the condition that each of the $n$ weights is at least $10$ g. Determine the smallest possible value of $n$ for which Ana would always be able to determine the mass of any material (the mass can be any real number between $0$ and $20.2$ kg) with an error of at most $10$ g.

Let $n > 0$ be an integer. We are given a balance and $n$ weights of weight $2^0, 2^1, \cdots, 2^{n-1}$. We are to place each of the $n$ weights on the balance, one after another, in such a way that the right pan is never heavier than the left pan. At each step we choose one of the weights that has not yet been placed on the balance, and place it on either the left pan or the right pan, until all of the weights have been placed. Determine the number of ways in which this can be done. [i]Proposed by Morteza Saghafian, Iran[/i]

On the plane we consider $70$ points $A_1,A_2,...,A_{70}$ with integer coodinates. Suppose each pooints has weight $1$ and the centers of gravity of the triangles $ A_1A_2A_3$, $A_2A_3A_4$, $..$., $A_{68}A_{69}A_{70}$, $A_{69}A_{70}A_{1}$, $A_{70}A_{1}A_{2}$ have integer coodinates. Prove that the centers of gravity of any triple $A_i,A_j,...,A_{k}$ has integer coodinates.

Consider $n$ weights, $n \ge 2$, of masses $m_1, m_2, ..., m_n$, where $m_k$ are positive integers such that $1 \le m_ k \le k$ for all $k \in \{1,2,...,n\} $: Prove that we can place the weights on the two pans of a balance such that the pans stay in equilibrium if and only if the number $m_1 + m_2 + ...+ m_n$ is even. Estonian Olympiad

A postman wants to divide $n$ packages with weights $1, 2, 3, 4, n$ into three groups of exactly the same weight. Can he do this if (a) $n = 2011$ ? (b) $n = 2012$ ?

$6$ indistinguishable coins are given, $4$ are authentic, all of the same weight, and $2$ are false, one is more light than the real ones and the other one, heavier than the real ones. The two false ones together weigh same as two authentic coins. Find two authentic coins using a balance scale twice only by two plates, no weights. Clarification: A two-pan scale only reports if the left pan weighs more, equal or less that right.

Kostya had two sets of $17$ coins: in one set all the coins were real, and in the other set there were exactly $5$ fakes (all the coins look the same; all real coins weigh the same, all fake coins also weigh the same, but it is unknown lighter or heavier than real ones). Kostya gave away one of the sets friend, and subsequently forgot which of the two sets had stayed. With the help of two weighings, can Kostya on a cup scale without weights, find out which of the two did he give away the sets?

Let $n$ be a positive integer. Find the largest integer $N$ for which there exists a set of $n$ weights such that it is possible to determine the mass of all bodies with masses of $1, 2, ..., N$ using a balance scale . (i.e. to determine whether a body with unknown mass has a mass $1, 2, ..., N$, and which namely).