A man runs his car out of gas thereby completely emptying his 16 gallon tank. He only has a 3, a 6, and a 11 gallon container (and fortunately a wagon to carry the containers in) in his trunk. He has nothing else in which he can carry gas. He walks a few miles to a gas station, and as luck would have it the gauge on the pump is broken so he can not use that to measure the fuel. He is in a pretty remote area with only one gas station for miles. Gas costs $3.09⁹, and he only has a $50. Using only the containers provided, and only walking once to and from the gas station, how can he get exactly 16 gallons of gas into his car?

this solution assumes lots. but sticks to the rules

firstly fill the 6g container.
Then put a lid on it. put the 6g and the empty 3g conainers into the 11g one and fill it to the top with 2g.  11-(6+3)=2
Put this 2g into the 3g container and put the lid on. then  again put the 6g and 3g ( now partly full) container in the 11 and fill with 2 g again.
Then empty the full 6g and the 2g from the 3g container into the 11g container which would have 2g in it. thus totaling 10g. then refill the 6g woo you have 16g of petrol

Posted by Will on 2007-09-27 11:04:01