Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > Jobs & Education > Education > School Subjects > Math and Arithmetic > I have a bucket of water that holds 4 gallons of water and another that holds 7 gallons of water. The buckets have no markings. How can I go to the well and bring back exactly 5 gallons of water?

I have a bucket of water that holds 4 gallons of water and another that holds 7 gallons of water. The buckets have no markings. How can I go to the well and bring back exactly 5 gallons of water?

In: Math and Arithmetic [Edit categories]

Answer:

Start with empty buckets, and carry them to the well.
(Note that the larger is the 7-gallon bucket, and the smaller is the 4-gallon bucket.)
Fill the 4-gallon bucket with water to the top.
Empty all the water from the 4-gallon bucket into the 7-gallon bucket.
(Note that there is room in the 7-gallon bucket for exactly 3 more gallons.)
Fill the 4-gallon bucket again.
Pour from the 4-gallon bucket into the 7-gallon bucket all the water that will fit, spilling none.
(Note that since there was room for only 3 more gallons in the 7-gallon bucket, you now have 1 gallon left in the 4-gallon bucket.)
Dump out all the water from the 7-gallon bucket. (Pour it back into the well or onto some flowers so it's not wasted.)
Pour the 1 gallon of water that remains in the 4-gallon bucket into the empty 7-gallon bucket.
Refill the 4-gallon bucket completely.
Pour all the 4 gallons from the 4-gallon bucket into the 7-gallon bucket.
(Note that since the 7-gallon bucket had 1 gallon already and you added 4 gallons, you now have 5 gallons of water in the 7-gallon bucket!)
Bring back your 7-gallon bucket that's holding exactly 5 gallons of water. (Bring your 4-gallon bucket back too, in case you want to play again!)

First answer by TedlyW. Last edit by TedlyW. Contributor trust: 499 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question].

[report abuse]

Can you answer these Math and Arithmetic questions?

	What is the best 4 digit?	Answer it!
	How many square metres is a soccer field?	Answer it!
	What is the disadvantage of using the range to compare the variability of data sets?	Answer it!
	How convert Indian numbers system into international system numbers?	Answer it!
	How much energy falls upon 1 square meter of land in one day?	Answer it!

Relevant answers:

of water. The buckets have no markings. How can I go to the well and bring back exactly 5 gallons?
Fill the 4 gal bucket and empty it into the 7 gal bucket. Fill the 4 gal bucket and then fill the 7 gal bucket from the 4 gal. This leaves 1 Gallon in the 4 gallon bucket. Empty the 7 gallon...
of waterThe buckets have no markings How can you go to the well and bring back exactly 4 gallons?
Fill up the 3 gallon bucket twice and empty the water into the 5 gallon bucket. This will leave you with 1 gallon in the 3 gallon bucket. Empty the 5 gallon bucket and pour the 1 gallon of water from...
Mass of a 5 gallon bucket of water?
1 Liter of water weighs 1 Kg. 5 gallons of water is 18.93 Liters, so 18.93 Kg for the water. I have no idea the mass of the bucket.
How much water can a gallon hold?
Your answer is in the question! A gallon container will hold a gallon of anything, including water, air, rocks, lava, peanuts, marbles...etc. Also, a gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds.
How many gallons of water are there in a bucket?
You haven't told us how big the bucket is. But even if we knew that, we would have no way of knowing how much water is in it. Maybe it's empty and you're just pulling our chain.