You have been given three jars of 3 liters, 5 liters and 8 liters capacity out of which the 8 liters jar is filled completely with water. Now you have to use these three jars to divide the water into two parts of 4 liters each.
How can you do it making the least amount of transfers?
Solution:
8 liters jar: 8; 5 liters jar: 0; 3 liters jar: 0
Fill 5 liters jar entirely.
8 liters jar: 3; 5 liters jar: 5; 3 liters jar: 0
Fill 3 liters jar with 5 liters jar.
8 liters jar: 3; 5 liters jar: 2; 3 liters jar: 3
Pour entirely from 3 liters jar to 8 liters jar.
8 liters jar: 6; 5 liters jar: 2; 3 liters jar: 0
Pour entirely from 5 liters jar to 3 liters jar.
8 liters jar: 6; 5 liters jar: 0; 3 liters jar: 2
Fill 5 liters jar with water from 8 liters jar.
8 liters jar: 1; 5 liters jar: 5; 3 liters jar: 2
Fill the 3 liters jar with water from the 5 liters jar.
8 liters jar: 1; 5 liters jar: 4; 3 liters jar: 3
Empty 3 liters jar in 8 liters jar.
8 liters jar: 4; 5 liters jar: 4; 3 liters jar: 0
Now you have 4 liters of water in 8 liters jar as well as 5 liters jar.