Brain Teasers
The Wine Cellar's Will
There once was a somewhat eccentric wine seller who died, leaving three sons behind him. He also left 7 full barrels of wine, 7 half-full barrels of wine, and 7 empty wine barrels. Being somewhat eccentric, he noted in his will that each son was to receive the same number of full barrels, half-full barrels, and empty barrels. How is this possible?
Answer
Take two half-full barrels and empty them into two other half-full barrels, making them full barrels. You then have 9 full barrels, 3 half-full barrels, and 9 empty barrels, which are all divisible by 3, giving each son 3 full barrels, 1 half-full barrel, and 3 empty barrels.Hide Answer Show Answer
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first comment!
Hmm...I just said they each get 7 half-full barrels.
Just put half a full into an empty and you get 2 full 3 half and 2 empty. There are way to many solutions.
Jun 19, 2010
Dux.Bellorum like this one very much. He is indeed very happy with the answer!
Comeonca, good point. Maybe the teaser should also say to transfer as little fluid as possible. In which case, your solution is actually better.
See and I thought talking about transferring wine would give it away.
Hmm..I see your point. Maybe say something like "do it as simply as possible".
Yeah, cause my solution was to take each full barrel and empty half into an empty barrel. Then each son gets 7 half barrels, 0 full barrels and 0 empty barrels.
Or take 1 full barrel and pour half of it into an empty. Then you have 6 full, 9 half and 6 empty. Each son gets 2 full, 3 half, and 2 empty.
Never mind, comeon already said my solution.
there are multiples solutions ,and this line should have succeeded in the solutions given,
the the distribution for each can be 2 full barrels ,3 half full barrels and 2 empty barrels
however the quantity of wine obtained by each would remain the same which is 10.5/3=3.5
the the distribution for each can be 2 full barrels ,3 half full barrels and 2 empty barrels
however the quantity of wine obtained by each would remain the same which is 10.5/3=3.5
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