Question

the milkman problem!

Answer 1

If I've got two empty bottles of 3 and 5 litres and a full 8 litre bottle, can I measure 4 litres?

Answer 2

yes

Answer 3

show steps, please.

Answer 4

moment

Answer 5

I want to find a general condition for this.

Answer 6

I know this problem is pretty basic but can we use stuff like linear algebra to generalise this?

Answer 7

hmm cool problem :)

Answer 8

from 8 turn full the 5 liter bottle and from this 5 liter turn full the 3 liter bottle and how many will remain in 5 liter bottle - 2 liter
in the 8 liter bottle have remained 3
- can use this way two time or just directly separated 4 liter ?

Answer 9

hmm im stumped :d

Answer 10

1.fill 5 l in 5 l bottle
2.transfer 3l to 3 l bootle from 5l bottle.
3.transfer 3l to 8 l bottle.
4.transfer remaining 2 l from 5 l bottle to 3 l bottle
5 transfer 5l from 6 litres in 8l bottle to 5 litre bottle.
6 now there are 2l in 3l bottle,1 litre in 8l bottle,5 l in 5l bottle.
7transfer 1l from 5 l bottle to 3l bottle.
8. now there are 4l in 5 l bottle
9. collect the remaining 4l in 8 l bottle.

Answer 11

Here:
Start with both containers empty. Fill the 5L container to capacity, and transfer 3L of its water into the 3L container. You now have 2L in the 5L container. Empty the 3L container and transfer the 2L into the 3L container. Refill the 5L container to capacity, then pour 1L from the 5L container into the 3L container. You will know you’ve poured off 1 liter when the 3L container is filled to capacity (since there was room for exactly one more liter in this container) You now have 4L in the 5L container.

Answer 12

OR!
In this case both containers are made of glass. Start with 2 empty containers. Fill the 3L to capacity. Transfer these 3 liters into 5L container. Strike 5L container with a mallet and measure & record the exact frequency of the audible tone with your frequency measuring device (assuming you have one!) Now fill the 5L container to capacity and again strike container with a mallet and again record the frequency of the audible tone with your frequency measuring device. Add the 2 recorded frequencies, divide by 2 and note their their mean average. Empty the 5L container little by little, striking it every so often with a mallet and noting its frequency until you reach the frequency (number) that exactly equals the mean average frequency (number) of the 2 initial frequencies. I think you will now have 4 liters of water.

Answer 13

due credit to http://mkcohen.com/saturday-puzzle-19-measuring-mystery

pretty intelligent solution, lol