A man's car runs out of gasoline. His car tank holds exactly 13 gallons. He has three empty unmarked containers which can hold 3 gallons, 6 gallons, and 11 gallons. Using only these containers at the gas station, how can the man bring back exactly 13 gallons?

(He is not allowed to buy over 13 gallons and dispose of the extra.)

That was actually the solution I was thinking of... but what if he found a liquid that didn't mix with gasoline, but instead seperated and floated on top... Would this be legal?

My idea is fill up the 6 container with this liquid, dump it into the 11, fill it up again and put in all possible in the 11. You would have 1 gallon of liquid in the 6. Put this liquid into the 3.

Then do the same thing with gasoline after you pour out/give back the liquid in the 11. You would then have 1 gallon liquid in the 3 and 1 gallon gasoline (in addition to 11 gallons in the 11)

Put 1 more gallon of gasoline in the 3 (fill it up) and pour out/give back the 1 gallon in the 3, then carry it back in the 3 and the 11, and give them the 6 gallon container for letting you use the liquid :)

Posted by Gamer on 2003-04-11 12:08:53