You are given 12 balls and a scale. Of the 12 balls, 11 are identical and 1 weighs slightly more. How do you find the heavier ball using the scale only three times?

First, weigh 5 balls against 5 balls (1st Use of Scale).  If the scale is equal, then discard those 10 balls and weigh the remaining 2 balls against each other (Second Use of Scale).  The heavier ball is the one you are looking for.

If on the first weighing (5 vs 5), one group is heavier, then of the heavier group weigh 2 against 2 (2nd Use of Scale).  If they are equal, then the 5th ball from the heavier group (the one not weighed) is the one you are looking for.  If one of the groups of 2 balls is heaver, then take the heaver group of 2 balls and weigh them against each other (Third Use of Scale).  The heavier ball is the one you are looking for.