Six Quarts of Water, 2 ContainersDate: 08/24/97 at 17:46:37 From: hilary chase Subject: Two containers How can you bring up from the river exactly six quarts of water when you have only two containers, a four-quart pail and a nine-quart pail, to measure with? (There are no horizontal scale markings on the container). I thought I could fill the nine-quart pail with water, then sink the four-quart pail into the nine-quart pail and pull it out leaving 6 quarts. Or, fill the 4 quart pail and empty it into the 9 quart. Fill the 4 quart half full and put in the 9 quart. Help! Date: 08/25/97 at 10:43:53 From: Doctor Wilkinson Subject: Re: Two containers Fill the nine-quart pail. Fill the four-quart pail from the nine- quart pail and empty it, twice. This leaves one quart in the nine- quart pail. Pour it into the four-quart pail. Refill the nine-quart pail and fill the four-quart pail from it. This now leaves six quarts in the nine-quart pail. -Doctor Wilkinson, The Math Forum Check out our web site! http://mathforum.org/dr.math/ |
Search the Dr. Math Library: |
[Privacy Policy] [Terms of Use]
Ask Dr. MathTM
© 1994- The Math Forum at NCTM. All rights reserved.
http://mathforum.org/dr.math/