No, nobody has it right yet!

Correct NymVette! But can you explain how?

I thought so!   Here's how it works...

Split the 9 coins into 3 piles of 3
Put a pile on each side, if they balance, disregard all 6
If they don't balance, take the lightest pile and disregard the other 6
Then put one of your remaining coins on each side. If they balance, the coin not on the scale is the fake.
If they do not balance, the lightest is the fake!

Simple when you know how!

Seeing as you got the right answer Eve, it's your turn.

They weight the same - a pound!

What do you mean wrong? A pound in weight is a pound in weight regardless of the substance making up the weight.

Or are you going to swerve us and say "a pound as in money and not weight"?

How can a universal weight measurement differ simply due to the material being weighed?

The only difference I can see is with the mass not the weight which is when the gold will obviously be heavier.

I would say Gold...wieght is based on Newtons and not pounds. The mass of the two objects would be the same (1 pound), but the weight, in terms of Newtons, would be higher when you include the force of gravity. I know that's not exactly right, but I remember some of that from Physics.

Nope it is not Gold. So first person to realise and post will get the correct answer!

Yes MiB it is a very good explanation too.

Well I am not posting the explanation until someone posts the correct answer.

MiB is correct and here is the explanation.

One pound of feathers is more than one pound of gold because the "pound" unit is different.

The most commonly used system of weights in the US and Great Britain is the avoirdupois system, where 1 pound = 16 ounces. This is used for most solid objects, except for precious metals and gems; gold is weighed by a special system, called the troy system, where one troy pound = 12 troy ounces.

Where one avoirdupois ounce is 28.35 grams, one troy ounce is about 31.10 grams.

To convert from avoirdupois pounds to troy pounds, multiply the first by 1.2152 to get its equivalent in troy measurement. Therefore, one "pound" of feathers in troy weight is actually 1.2152 pounds (one avoirdupois pound), compared to one troy pound of gold. And the feathers win.

That wasn't really a 'lateral thinking' puzzle was it Eve?   More of a 'degree-in-science' question!

Well I thought it was good, and it is MiB's turn.

No guesses yet?

Okay, the clues for the answer are in the opening statement. To get teh answer you need to deconstruct the name of the ranch...

Okay...a clue.

Think of what one uses that requires you to "focus". Look at ALL the possibilities, choose one then break down the component parts.

I should also point out that the answer is a bit of a pun...

Nope. That is a clue to the pun but you need to work out "Focus". What it applies to and how.

I've kept looking at this MiB and I can't figure it out at all! I'm completely stumped!

It's been over 2 weeks so I assume I'll have to give you guys the answer...


Okay, so the man called his ranch "Focus". What things does "focus" apply to? Cameras, eyes, telescopes, binocluars, microscopes and magnifying glasses.

What do these things have in common? Lenses. Now, if you were to use a magnifying glass to burn something like wood (or insects if you are cruel) or grass you need to concentrate the sunlight which is where the lens comes in.

In order to "focus" the sunlight onto the particular spot on the wood or grass, you have to ensure that the rays of sunlight coming from the sun and those refracted out to the target are united via the lens of the magnifying glass.

So, the man named his cattle rearing ranch "focus" because it's where "the sun's rays meet" ( aka the sons raise meat)!

Geddit?

I like riddles.  So here is one for people to guess.

A woman goes into a hardware store to buy something for her house. When asked the price, the clerk replies, "the price of one is twelve cents, the price of forty-four is twenty-four cents, and the price a hundred and forty-four is thirty-six cents. What does the woman want to buy?

 when i got asked that one it took me ages to get the answer.  Although i like riddles i suck at solving them.

Mary is 12

Heres one:

Four men were in a boat on the lake. The boat turns over, and all four men sink to the bottom of the lake, yet not a single man got wet! Why?

Yup thats correct

Are they on treadmills?