2.

The Weight Problem of Bachet de Mziriac

A merchant had a forty pound weight that broke into four pieces as a result of a
fall. When the pieces were subsequently weighed, it was found that the weight of
each piece was a whole number of pounds and that the four pieces could be used to
weigh every integer weight between 1 and 40 pounds.
What were the weights of the pieces?

This problem comes from the French mathematician Claude Gaspard Bachet de
Mziriac (1581-1638) who solved it in his famous book Problmes plaisants et dlectables
qui se font par les nombres, published in 1624.

We imagine a balance scale with left and right pans (scales). On the left, we put only
measuring weights, while on the right we may place measuring weights and the load to be
balanced (and hence its weight determined). To use the fewest number of weights, we
must put measuring weights on both pans. For example, to weigh a 1 lb load with 2 and 3
lb weights, put 3 on the left, and 2 on the right. A 1 lb load on the right will balance the
scale.

If the left pan has weights of 5 and 10 lbs, and the right has weights of 1, 3 and 4 lbs,
we say that the right pan gives the left pan a preponderance of 7 lbs.

In the following, we will only consider integer loads and weights.

If we have measuring weights A, B, C,... with which we can weigh all integer loads from
1 through n lbs, and if P is a new weight of
p = 2n + 1
lbs, then it is possible to weigh all loads from 1 through 3n + 1 lbs using A, B, C,...,P. We
dont need P to weigh loads of 1 through n lbs; in order to weigh a load of p x lbs
(x = 1, . . , n), put P on the left pan and distribute A, B, C,... between left and right pans to
give the right pan a preponderance of x lbs. Similarly in order to weigh a load of p + x lbs,
put P on the left pan and distribute A, B, C,... between left and right pans to give the left pan
a preponderance of x lbs. (If P weighs less than 2n + 1 lbs, we cant balance a load of 3n + 1
lbs. If P weighs more than 2n + 1 lbs, we cant balance a load of n + 1 lbs.)

The solution to the problem is now easy. The maximum number of loads that can be
weighed with two weights A and B is 4 : 1 for A and 21 + 1 = 3 for B. With these weights,
we can balance loads of 1, 2, 3 and 4 lbs. With a third weight of
c = 24 + 1 = 9
lbs, we can balance all loads from 1 through 34 + 1 = 13 lbs. Finally a fourth weight of
d = 213 + 1 = 27
allows us to balance all loads from 1 through 313 + 1 = 40 lbs.

Conclusion: The four pieces weigh 1, 3, 9, 27 lbs.

Note: The English mathematician MacMahon generalized this, and in Volume 21 of the

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Quarterly Journal of Mathematics (1886), he determined all possible integer weights that
balance loads of 1 through n lbs.