The Water Jug Challenge : Puzzle

You've got a 4 liter jug and a 9 liter jug. 

You've got a pool of water. 

What is the fewest number of steps it takes to come up with exactly 6 liters of water? 

No, you cannot pour some water into the 9 liter jug and then guess. Nor can you fill each jug up half way or something. You have to be exact. A step is defined as putting water into a jug (not emptying). For instance, filling the 4 liter jug and then pouring it into the 9 liter jug is 2 steps.

Click here for SOLUTION! 

The Water Jug Challenge Puzzle : Solution

What was the puzzle?

We've got a 4 liter jug and a 9 liter jug. 

We've got a pool of water. 

We have to find fewest number of steps it takes to come up with exactly 6 liters of water. 

STEPS : 

1. Fill up the 9 liter jug from the pool.         9L - 9  4L - 0

2. Fill up the 4 liter jug from the 9 liter jug. 9L - 5  4L - 4

3. Empty the 4 liter jug into the pool.          9L - 5  4L - 0

4. Fill 4 liter jug again from the 9 liter jug.   9L - 1  4L - 4

5. Empty the 4 liter jug into the pool           9L - 1  4L - 0

6. Transfer 1 liter left 9L jug into the 4L.     9L - 0  4L - 1

7. Fill the 9 liter jug from the pool.             9L - 9  4L - 1

8. Fill up the 4 liter jug from the 9 liter jug. 9L - 6  4L - 4

That's how we have exactly 6 liters of water in 9 liters jug. 

Fair Distribution Of Water

In Sahara desert , 3 men found a big 24L Jar is full of water. Since there is shortage of water so they decided to distribute the water among themselves such that they all have equal amounts of it. But they only have a 13L, a 5L and an 11 liter Jar.

How do they do it? 

Here is how to do it!

Source 

Equal Distribution Of Water

What was the challenge?

1. First pour 24L into 13L and 11L jar.There will be no water in 24L jar.

2. Now pour 13L jar into 5L jar till 5L is filled. So 8L of water will be left in 13L jar.

3. This 8L of water from 13L jar is emptied in empty 24L jar.This will leave 13L jar empty.

4. Now pour 11L water from 11L jar into 13L of jar. There is still space for 2L of water in 13L jar.

5. Pour 5L jar into 13L of jar which had space for 2L only. So 3L of water will be left in 5L of jar.

6. This 3L of water is emptied in 11L jar.

7. A 13L jar full of water is again poured into 5L jar leaving behind 8L of water in it.

8. A 5L jar full of water is finally poured in 11L jar already having 3L of water. 

9. This way, 24L, 11L and 13L of jar would have 8L of water each.