Start with three piles of three and weigh two of them. One will be lighter, or the one that is not weighed will be lighter. Repeat with the three pennies in the lighter stack.

But that wouldn't narrow it to the single lighter penny, would it? Just to the stack with the lighter penny in it.

If the first two stacks you weigh are even you know that the lighter Penny is in the third stack. If they're not, you know which of the two stacks has the lighter penny. Then weigh two pennies from the lighter stack. If they're even, it's the third penny. If not, you'll know which one is lighter. So you only have to weigh twice, right?

But I bet you killed it at Vocally Self Critical!

Hahahaha! Well, I'm a fucking MASTER at that!

Glam--you only weigh two of the final three. If one of the two is lighter, then Bob's your uncle. If they are the same, the one you left out is the light one.

sj, thanks, I believe that is just right. There's a reason I was an English major!

Yeah, I'm lucky to be able to understand the answer. UGH things like this make me feel so fucking stupid.

Logic puzzles like that just stress me out and make me feel dumb. I know they're supposed to demonstrate problem solving skills, but I hate them.

Timelies all!

Sitting in the lobby of the con hotel with a fussy toddler.(he's in the stroller and wants out) Waiting for our room to be available.

Logic puzzles like that just stress me out and make me feel dumb. I know they're supposed to demonstrate problem solving skills, but I hate them.

Exactly. And I feel like I have pretty good skills at actually solving problems. Except when presented with a logic puzzle which makes me feel like I'm defective and lucky to have gotten anywhere in life.

Start with three piles of three and weigh two of them. One will be lighter, or the one that is not weighed will be lighter. Repeat with the three pennies in the lighter stack.

But 3 piles of 3 is nine pennies. The question was about 8 pennies. That technique won't work with 8.