Weights of , , , are placed on the two pans of a balance such that on each pan there are weights and the balance is in equilibrium. Prove that one can swap weights from one pan with weights from the other pan such that the balance remains in equilibrium.
Solution
We call a pair two weights whose sum is . We wish to obtain, in the end, pairs on each of the two pans of the balance.
If on the pan on the left we have the weights and their pairs are on the pan on the right, we move the weights such that, in the end, on the left pan we have the weights together with their pairs, .
If we have less than pairs that are split between the two pans, we must have at least pairs on the left pan and (at least) pairs on the right pan. Moving complete pairs from the right pan next to pairs from the left pan, we obtain, again, complete pairs on one pan, hence the desired result.
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