You have a 12 litre jug, an 8 litre jug, and a 5 litre jug. None of the jugs have any markings on them. The 12 litre jug is full, and the other two are empty.

How can you divide the 12 litres of water in such a way that two of the jugs (the 12 litre and the 8 litre jugs) have exactly 6 litres of water in them, and the third (the 5 litre jug) is empty?

use the 12 liter jug to fill the 8 liter jug
leaving 4 liters in the 12 liter jug.
Use the 8 liter jug to fill the 5 liter jug this leaves 4 L. in the 12 L jub,
3 L in the 8 L jug
5 L in the 5 L jug
Empty the 5 L. Jug into the 12 L. Jug and then empty the 8 L. jug into the (now empty) 5L jug
This leaves
9 L in the 12 L jug
0 L in the 8 L jug
3 L in the 5 L jug
Fill the 8 L jug from teh 12 L jug
This Leaves
1 L in the 12 L Jug
8 L in the 8 L jug
3 L in the 5 L jug
Top off the 5 L jug from the 8 L jug this leaves:
1 L in the 12 L jug
6 L in the 8 L jug
5 L in the 5 L jug
poor the 5 L jug baack into the 12 L jug adn you are done

Posted by FatBoy on 2003-08-18 10:23:33