2 probs from a recent podcast

[bhoywonder]

I heard these recently.....You have 8 balls,1 is heavier than the other.identify the heavy ball,u have a set of scales.just like the scales of justice and you can only use it twice?      Secondly,why are manhole covers round?

[AlexMartin]

Scottish ppl drink too much on weeknights imo.

[bhoywonder]

Hiccup.is it not the weekend yet?

[LeKnave]

3 balls on each side, if one is heavier then take 2 of those 3 and place one on each side if one is heavier it is the heavy ball, if they balance it is the 3rd of those 3.

If both sets of 3 balance then place the remaining 2 balls one on each side, the heavier one is the heavy one.

[suzanne]

I heard these recently.....You have 8 balls,1 is heavier than the other.identify the heavy ball,u have a set of scales.just like the scales of justice and you can only use it twice?      Secondly,why are manhole covers round?

3 balls on each side of the scales, if equal its one of the other 2 balls. If one side is heavier, its one of those 3, one ball each side, if equal its the other one....doesnt read back very well but I know what I mean :-)

Sigh!!!! too slow

[Delboy]

The question of why manhole covers are typically round, at least in the U.S., was made famous by Microsoft when they began asking it as a job-interview question.[6] Originally meant as a psychological assessment of how one approaches a question with more than one "right" answer, the problem has produced a number of alternate explanations, from the pragmatic ("Manhole covers are round because manholes are round.")[6] to the philosophical.

Reasons for the shape include:

A round manhole cover cannot fall through its circular opening, whereas a square manhole cover may fall in if it were inserted diagonally in the aperture (A Reuleaux triangle or other curve of constant width would also serve this purpose, but round covers are much easier to manufacture.)
Round tubes are the strongest and most material-efficient shape against the compression of the earth around them, and so it is natural that the cover of a round tube assume a circular shape.
The bearing surfaces of manhole frames and covers are machined to assure flatness and prevent them from becoming dislodged by traffic. Round castings are much easier to machine using horizontal boring mills.
Circular covers do not need to be rotated to align them when covering a circular manhole.
Human beings have a roughly circular cross-section.
A round manhole cover can be more easily moved by being rolled.
If an automobile rolls over a dislodged manhole of another shape, the sharp corners could puncture the automobile's tire, whereas a circle doesn't have corners.
It's easier to dig a circular hole.
Tradition
Aesthetics
Supply. Most manhole covers are made by a few large companies. If you want a different shape, you will have to pay more to have them custom-made or you will have to make them yourself.
Other manhole shapes can be found, usually squares or rectangles. Nashua, New Hampshire may be unique in the U.S. for having triangular manhole covers that point in the direction of the underlying flow. The city is phasing out the triangles, which were made by a local foundry, because they are not large enough to meet modern safety standards, and larger triangles cannot be found.

[bhoywonder]

Brilliant and informative replys