Suppose there are three containers: container I (3 L), container II (5 L), and container III (8 L). Container III is filled with 8 L of water while the other two are empty.
With the help of these 3 containers, how do you distribute the water in equal volumes, i.e., 4 L in container II and 4 L in container III? Consider that there is no loss of water when transferring it from one container to another.
Check if you were right - full answer with solution below.
Solution:
When there is no loss of water while transferring it from one container to another container. The only way to do the required task is to repeatedly transfer water from one container to another until one arrives at a favorable result.
Step 1: Pour water from an 8L to 5L container. Water in the 8L container is now 3L and the 5L container is now full.
Step 2: Pour water from the 5 L container to the 3 L container. Water in the 5L container is now 2L and the 3L container is now full.
Step 3: Pour water from the 3 L container to the 8 L container. Water now in the 8L container is 6L and the 3L container is empty.
Step 4: Pour water from a 5L to 3L container. The 5L container is now empty, and the water in the 3L container is now 2L.
Step 5: Pour water from the 8 L container to the 5 L container. The water in the 8L container is now 1L and the 5L container is now full.
Step 6: Pour water from the 5L container into the 3L container. The 3L container is now full, and the water in the 5L container is 4L.
Step 7: Pour water from the 3L container into the 8L container. The 3L container is now empty, and the water in the 8L container is 4L.
Below is the table that summarizes the above solution:
Step | Container I | Container II | Container III |
1 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
2 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
4 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
5 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
6 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
7 | 0 | 4 | 4 |