48 replies to this topic

[Xianpiper]

I have seen a few answers that would work but would waste water.

Here's a method that would require you to waste zero water and allow you to avoid marking or partially filling any bowl.

Place the 3 unit bowl into the 5 unit bowl with the rims in the same plane and fill the 5 unit bowl. This means that you are only filling the space in between the two bowls, thus giving you 2 units because 3 of the 5 units in the 5 unit bowl are taken up by the 3 unit bowl.

Then simply remove the 3 unit bowl and pour the 2 units of water from the 5 unit bowl into the 3 unit bowl.

Then simply repeat the first step filling the 5 unit bowl with the 3 unit bowl placed in it. Then pour the 2 units from the 3 unit bowl into the 5 unit bowl that has the second 2 units in it.

Thus you now have 4 units EXACTLY of water in the 5 unit bowl without wasting any water or partially filling anything.

[Xianpiper]

I have seen a few answers that would work but would waste water.

Here's a method that would require you to waste zero water and allow you to avoid marking or partially filling any bowl.

Place the 3 unit bowl into the 5 unit bowl with the rims in the same plane and fill the 5 unit bowl. This means that you are only filling the space in between the two bowls, thus giving you 2 units because 3 of the 5 units in the 5 unit bowl are taken up by the 3 unit bowl.

Then simply remove the 3 unit bowl and pour the 2 units of water from the 5 unit bowl into the 3 unit bowl.

Then simply repeat the first step filling the 5 unit bowl with the 3 unit bowl placed in it. Then pour the 2 units from the 3 unit bowl into the 5 unit bowl that has the second 2 units in it.

Thus you now have 4 units EXACTLY of water in the 5 unit bowl without wasting any water or partially filling anything.

This doesn't work because it fails to factor in the volume of water displaced by the actual volume of the 3 litre bowl that you place in the 5 litre bowl.

[chill4677]

This came to my mind right away I read all your and didn't see it. It seems so easy I don't trust myself LOL.
You have a 5ltr bowl and a 3 ltr bowl trying to measure out 4ltrs of water.

Why don't you fill the 3ltr bowl up with water. Being careful not to spill.
Pour the water into the 5ltr bowl. Repeat this, fill the 3ltr bowl up again
with water pour all the water that will fit into the 5 ltr bowl. Thus, leaving
1 ltr of water (3+3=6) in the 3 ltr bowl. pour out the 5 ltr bowl of water.
Pour the 1 ltr of water from the 3 ltr bowl into the 5 ltr bowl fill the 3 ltr
bowl with water again and pour this water in the 5ltr bowl adding it to the
1 ltr of water that is already in the 5 ltr bowl. Now we have 4ltrs of water
in the 5 ltr bowl.

[Wiseoldsnake]

Why not fill both containers fully. 8 liters then pour out half of each 2.5 amd 1.5 respectively then add the 1.5 in the 3 liter to the 2.5 in the 5 liter to equal 4.

[G Threat]

Why not fill both containers fully. 8 liters then pour out half of each 2.5 amd 1.5 respectively then add the 1.5 in the 3 liter to the 2.5 in the 5 liter to equal 4.

Why not just fill them half full to begin with? Or how about:

fill the 5 pour it into the 3
Dump the 3 and pour the remaining 2 from the 5 into it
fill the 5 and then top up the 3
you should have 4 in the 5 now

[Josborn94]

easy u get a four-litre container and fill

[cinsatia]

(1) fill the 5-Liter bowl
(2) using (1), decant 3L into 3-L bowl; this leaves 2L in the 5-L bowl
(3) in any available ample-sized, "other" container, pour the 2L from the 5-L bowl
(4) reuse water from 3-L bowl into 5-L bowl and fill 5-L bowl to 5L
(5) repeat (2) and (3) to get 4-L in the "other" container

wastes 2L!!!

[kidsranqe]

Spoiler for solution

Fill up the 5-liter bowl and pour it into the 3-liter bowl. Empty the 3-liter bowl and pour the rest of the water from the 5-liter bowl into it. Then, fill up the 5 liter bowl again. Pour water into the 3-liter bowl so that it is full. You should then have 4 liters in the 5-liter bowl.

[NotSmart]

No matter what shape the five-liter container and the three-liter containers are you can tilt them while filling them from the bottom left of the base of the container to the upper right lip of the container. By doing so, you have obtained 50% capacity. Half of the five-liter container holds 2.5 liters. Half of the three-liter container contains 1.5 liters. Once you have filled both containers in this manner, pour the liquid from the three-liter container into the five-liter container and you have the desired four liters!