Three weighings strategy: 1) Weigh 4 vs 4 coins to isolate 4 suspects; 2) Weigh 2 suspects vs 2 genuine coins to narrow to 2; 3) Weigh one suspect against a genuine coin to identify the lighter counterfeit.
12 coin counterfeit problem
three weighings coin puzzle
identify lighter fake coin
balance scale coin strategy
12 Coin Lighter Counterfeit Identification in 3 Weighings