There is a rectangular tin 2cm by 3cm at the base, 2cm deep and open at the top.
It is filled with water to a depth of .4cm.
Twelve 1cm steel cubes are placed in the tin one by one. The first six form a single layer at the bottom. The next six form a second layer.

To what height does the water level rise after the placement of each cube?
Assume the cubes fit together tightly, leaving no spaces.

(In reply to Solution by Dej Mar)

Now we have an 'in theory' and a real world solution! (Actually we don't, see below)

I wonder which Jer had in mind?

I'm going back to my belief that Jer has the 'in theory' model as the basis of this.

Why?  He asks us to place 12 cubes in the tin.  If we cannot place the 6th at the lowest level, we cannot by the same argument place the 12th ...  :-) I've just #6 sitting perfectly over its position!

Yes, #7, 8, 9, 10, .......11?  I've got the #6 placement problem!

I think we've got to go with Wallace North

Edited on May 17, 2006, 2:20 am

Posted by brianjn on 2006-05-17 02:19:01