Lesson eLearning

You have a 5 L jug and a 3 L jug. By pouring water between them, what is the minimum number of steps to get exactly 4 L in one of the jugs?

hard 5 marks Class 2 · Mathematics · Jugs and Mugs
Answer
6

The correct answer is 6 — Pour from the 5 L jug into the 3 L jug until the 3 L jug is full; the 5 L jug will then contain exactly 4 L (6).

Step-by-step solution

  1. Fill the 5 L jug (1).
  2. Pour from the 5 L jug into the 3 L jug until the 3 L jug is full (2).
  3. Empty the 3 L jug (3).
  4. Pour the remaining 2 L from the 5 L jug into the 3 L jug (4).
  5. Fill the 5 L jug again (5).
  6. Pour from the 5 L jug into the 3 L jug until the 3 L jug is full; the 5 L jug will then contain exactly 4 L (6).
Common mistake: Counting only fill and pour actions, missing empty step

Concept tested: Water jug algorithm

Published · How this solution was prepared and checked

← All Jugs and Mugs questions