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yet another "figure it out" thread
and for the guys who already know the answer to this, don't spoil it for everyone else please.
You have a 3 gallon container and a 5 gallon container. Neither of the containers are symmetrical nor are they marked in any way. They are both oddly shapped but hold exactly their respective number of gallons when filled to the brim. With your life on the line,thetask is to go to the well and bring back exactly 4 gallons of water. This is not a trick question, it's just math. |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
Here's an ideato help start you out withon how to go about this...
If you fill the 3 gal containerthen empty it into the 5 gal, you now have 3 gallons of water inside the 5 gal container. It doesn't have to happen with this exact sequence as a starting pointbut if it did, how would you obtain the missing gallon to add to the existing 3 to make the 4 that you need? This is life or death now guys. C'mon, think and live or don't and die!!! :D |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
1) Fill the 3gallon from the 5gal leaving exactly 2gal in the 5gal container.
2) Dump the 3gal. 3) Put the 2 gallons that remain into the empty 3gal container. 4) Refill the 5gal container and fill the 3gal container that has 2 gallons in it. 5) This leaves exactly 4 gallons in the 5gal container. Bob |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
Well I would fill the 3 gallon bucket and empty it in the 5 gallon bucket fill the 3 gallon bucket again and then put in what you need to fill the 5 gallon bucket mark your 3 gallon bucket with the remaining water which would be a gallon dump the 5 gallon bucket out put the 1 gallon in thats remaining in the 3 gallon bucket fill the 3 gallon bucket again and dump it in the 5 gallon bucket and BAM you got 4 gallons!
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RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
fill 3 gallon empty into 5 gallon fill 3 gallon empty into 5 gallon 1 gallon left in 3 gallon container empty 5 gallon put the 1 gallon in the 5 gallon fill 3 gallon and put in the 5 gallon container I believe 4 gallons is should be in there.
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RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
nevermind. wCL
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RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
Well, you guys are definitely smarter than me or at least better at visualizing this 'cause I posted this and in 10-15 min we already hadboth right answers. When I was first asked this it took me a half hour to figure it out.
Either the aboveor you already knew andwere just claiming your undeserved glory! LOL jk, honor system here... good job guys! |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
ORIGINAL: Hoytail Hunter This is not a trick question, it's just math. |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
Ooooh just thought of this...
Now, let's say the containers are perfectly symmetrical - either cylinders or like a box. How then would there be a third way to do it? |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
I would get the bellhop and the short guy from the 24th floor to figure it out.
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RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
Why not just put the 3 gallon container in the 5 gallon container, fill the 5 gallon one up with water and remove the 3 gallon one whichgives you 2 gallons in the 5 gallon, pour that into the 3 gallon and repeat the process. that will give you 2 gallons in each one so you dont hurt yourself carrying it, because you know if they were going to kill you over 4 gallons of water, they are gonna make you carry it!
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RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
ORIGINAL: WakeCow fill 3 gallon empty into 5 gallon fill 3 gallon empty into 5 gallon 1 gallon left in 3 gallon container empty 5 gallon put the 1 gallon in the 5 gallon fill 3 gallon and put in the 5 gallon container I believe 4 gallons is should be in there. That works for me too, it shows there is more than one way to do it. Bob |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
ORIGINAL: Sliverflicker Why not just put the 3 gallon container in the 5 gallon container, fill the 5 gallon one up with water and remove the 3 gallon one whichgives you 2 gallons in the 5 gallon, pour that into the 3 gallon and repeat the process. that will give you 2 gallons in each one so you dont hurt yourself carrying it, because you know if they were going to kill you over 4 gallons of water, they are gonna make you carry it!
You know, it's odd that everyone can figure out how to do it both of the hard ways but can't the easy way if the containers were symmetrical. *shrugs |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
fill the 3gal up, pour it into the 5 gal, fill up the 3ga again, and fill up the 5gal exactly to the top, leaving 1 gal in the 3 gal, dump out the 5 gal, then pour the 1 gal into the 5 gal, fill up the gal again and pour in 3 more gals into the 5gal, leaving exactly 4 gallons!
I saw die hard with avengence......:) |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
I would fill the the 3 gallon jug, then fill the 5 gallon jug half full. I would proceed to drink the contents of the five gallon jug and wait 15 minutes. When I could no longer hold the 2 and 1/2 gallons in my bladder I would release it but stop it before exit. Knowing my anatomy that would be exactly one gallon. Pour the three in the five and add the one, problem solved.
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RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
ORIGINAL: Hoytail Hunter ORIGINAL: Sliverflicker Why not just put the 3 gallon container in the 5 gallon container, fill the 5 gallon one up with water and remove the 3 gallon one whichgives you 2 gallons in the 5 gallon, pour that into the 3 gallon and repeat the process. that will give you 2 gallons in each one so you dont hurt yourself carrying it, because you know if they were going to kill you over 4 gallons of water, they are gonna make you carry it!
You know, it's odd that everyone can figure out how to do it both of the hard ways but can't the easy way if the containers were symmetrical. *shrugs ![]() |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
Ok If they are symmetrical I would measure how high the 3 gallon goes on the 5 gallon and make a mark leaving 3 gallons below the mark and 2 gallons above the mark. Then I would place then 3 gallon on the line a mark where the top of the 5 gallon is on the 3 gallon then i would ill up the 3 gallon up to the line twice and dump it in the 5 gallon. And presto! 4 gallons*Note this only works if they are both as deep and as wide.* :D what do i win?
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RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
I would toss the 3 gal jug anduse the 5 gal jug, using4 quarters, putting them in one at a time. If you putall four inat once you will get five gallons (at least around here) and that won't work!...[8D]
Good job guys, I figured it out....but had to get a pencil and paper..[&:] |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
ORIGINAL: crutch I would toss the 3 gal jug and use the 5 gal jug, using 4 quarters, putting them in one at a time. If you put all four in at once you will get five gallons (at least around here) and that won't work!...[8D] Good job guys, I figured it out....but had to get a pencil and paper..[&:] |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
Fill the 5 gallon container. Start drinking from it. Knowing my bladder is going to hold about a gallon before I have to go Wee Wee, when I have to go, we got 4 gallons.:):)
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RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
ORIGINAL: whitetailbowhunter Ok If they are symmetrical I would measure how high the 3 gallon goes on the 5 gallon and make a mark leaving 3 gallons below the mark and 2 gallons above the mark. Then I would place then 3 gallon on the line a mark where the top of the 5 gallon is on the 3 gallon then i would ill up the 3 gallon up to the line twice and dump it in the 5 gallon. And presto! 4 gallons*Note this only works if they are both as deep and as wide.* :D what do i win?
ORIGINAL: MOTOWNHONKEY I would fill the the 3 gallon jug, then fill the 5 gallon jug half full. I would proceed to drink the contents of the five gallon jug and wait 15 minutes. When I could no longer hold the 2 and 1/2 gallons in my bladder I would release it but stop it before exit. Knowing my anatomy that would be exactly one gallon. Pour the three in the five and add the one, problem solved. |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
It's simple... fill the 5 gallon up and pour it into the 3 gal.then pour the 3 gal back inton the 5 gal. subtract the 3 gal.add the 5 gal back to what you just subtracted. pour them back into each other again. then subtract both and add both together.. I mean come on guys its simple math.
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RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
ORIGINAL: Hoytail Hunter ORIGINAL: whitetailbowhunter Ok If they are symmetrical I would measure how high the 3 gallon goes on the 5 gallon and make a mark leaving 3 gallons below the mark and 2 gallons above the mark. Then I would place then 3 gallon on the line a mark where the top of the 5 gallon is on the 3 gallon then i would ill up the 3 gallon up to the line twice and dump it in the 5 gallon. And presto! 4 gallons*Note this only works if they are both as deep and as wide.* :D what do i win?
ORIGINAL: MOTOWNHONKEY I would fill the the 3 gallon jug, then fill the 5 gallon jug half full. I would proceed to drink the contents of the five gallon jug and wait 15 minutes. When I could no longer hold the 2 and 1/2 gallons in my bladder I would release it but stop it before exit. Knowing my anatomy that would be exactly one gallon. Pour the three in the five and add the one, problem solved. |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
ORIGINAL: whitetailbowhunter Oh well now you change the rules![>:] LOL ok back to the well!:D |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
Hint?:D
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RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
half and half equals whole
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RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
ORIGINAL: twildasin Well I would fill the 3 gallon bucket and empty it in the 5 gallon bucket fill the 3 gallon bucket again and then put in what you need to fill the 5 gallon bucket mark your 3 gallon bucket with the remaining water which would be a gallon dump the 5 gallon bucket out put the 1 gallon in thats remaining in the 3 gallon bucket fill the 3 gallon bucket again and dump it in the 5 gallon bucket and BAM you got 4 gallons! |
RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
If you fill them both half way up you will get 4 gallons also as long as the containers dont have a tapered neck.
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RE: yet another "figure it out" thread
ORIGINAL: Sliverflicker If you fill them both half way up you will get 4 gallons also as long as the containers dont have a tapered neck. There's a third system of pouring that will get you 4 gal on the dot. |
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