THE WASSAIL BOWL.
(
Measuring, Weight, and Packing Puzzles.)
One Christmas Eve three Weary Willies came into possession of what was
to them a veritable wassail bowl, in the form of a small barrel,
containing exactly six quarts of fine ale. One of the men possessed a
five-pint jug and another a three-pint jug, and the problem for them was
to divide the liquor equally amongst them without waste. Of course, they
are not to use any other vessels or measures. If you can show how it was
to be done at all, then try to find the way that requires the fewest
possible manipulations, every separate pouring from one vessel to
another, or down a man's throat, counting as a manipulation.
Answer:
The division of the twelve pints of ale can be made in eleven
manipulations, as below. The six columns show at a glance the quantity
of ale in the barrel, the five-pint jug, the three-pint jug, and the
tramps X, Y, and Z respectively after each manipulation.
Barrel. 5-pint. 3-pint. X. Y. Z.
7 .. 5 .. 0 .. 0 .. 0 .. 0
7 .. 2 .. 3 .. 0 .. 0 .. 0
7 .. 0 .. 3 .. 2 .. 0 .. 0
7 .. 3 .. 0 .. 2 .. 0 .. 0
4 .. 3 .. 3 .. 2 .. 0 .. 0
0 .. 3 .. 3 .. 2 .. 4 .. 0
0 .. 5 .. 1 .. 2 .. 4 .. 0
0 .. 5 .. 0 .. 2 .. 4 .. 1
0 .. 2 .. 3 .. 2 .. 4 .. 1
0 .. 0 .. 3 .. 4 .. 4 .. 1
0 .. 0 .. 0 .. 4 .. 4 .. 4
And each man has received his four pints of ale.
