Counterfeit Coin Puzzle

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The Counterfeit Coin Puzzle

You have 12 coins, and all of them are identical in appearance except one, which is counterfeit. The counterfeit coin is either lighter or heavier than the rest. You have a balance scale that allows you to compare the weight of two groups of coins, but you can only use the scale three times.

Question:
How can you determine which coin is the counterfeit, and whether it is heavier or lighter, in just three weighings?

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Hint:
You’ll need to divide the coins into groups and use the process of elimination to narrow down both the counterfeit coin and whether it’s heavier or lighter.

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Click here for the solution.