Solution

(related to Problem: The Wassail Bowl)

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.


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References

Project Gutenberg

  1. Dudeney, H. E.: "Amusements in Mathematics", The Authors' Club, 1917

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