Thursday, May 27, 2010

A Thursday Thought

Do you remember the scene in Die Hard With A Vengeance when John McClane and Zeus had to diffuse a bomb by solving a mathematical puzzle? If not, here's the situation...see if you can solve it :o)

At a fountain there is a five gallon jug and a three gallon jug. In order to diffuse the bomb, the weight of a jug with only four gallons of water must be placed on the scale. How will you go about this in under 30 seconds?

There are actually two solutions to this problem but remember, the final jug must only have four gallons of water in it! Can you come up with one or both solutions? :o)


15 comments:

Annie said...

I hate puzzles like this and I'm a mathematician! Clearly I use that term loosely.

Parsley said...

I remember the movie but not the solution. I'd blow up for sure!

Terri M said...

Fill up the 5-gal jug. Use the water to fill the 3-gal jug. Empty 3-gal jug. Pour remaining 2 gal. from 5-gal jug into 3-gal jug, fill 5-gal jug again and top off 3-gal jug. 5-gal jug now has 4 gals. in it. Place 5-gal jug on scale. Hurry!!

Terri M said...

I had to think hard for the second one...
Fill 3-gal jug, dump into 5-gal jug. Fill 3-gal jug again, top off 5-gal jug. 3-gal jug now has one gal. Dump out 5-gal jug, place single gal from 3-gal jug into 5-gal jug. Fill 3-gal jug and pour into 5-gal jug. Voila! 4 gals! Place on scale. Hurry, but don't spill!!

Irene said...

I've never seen the movie and would mish mash the 2 answers and blow up ! LOL

Cole said...

Oh man, I'd be toast!

Tammy said...

If this were the way for me to stay alive, someone had best get planning my services because my bits would be found from here to California. KA-BOOM!

Leeland said...

I gotta watch the movie again.
I need some sleep.
I'm going to count sheep.
Gallons, what is that? A ribbon you can sew, isn't it?
Lol!
You're kidding me. That's too easy. I'll just flee and come back when you give the answer... I'm too old for these games...
Hugs,
Lili

Chiloe said...

Just stopping by to say hello and that I 'm late in blog reading but I don't forget you !!! Hugs ♥

mumzy said...

I like Terri's answer myself. You just have to be quick if it is timed. But it works for me.
{{{Hugs & Love}}}

WendyCarole said...

hate maths puzzles!

Patricia Lessell said...

Well I love puzzles like this and it was in The first Professor Layton for the DS and I knew the answer.
Lots of love
Patti xxx

Stitchabilities said...

No way could I even fill one bottle in 30 seconds,let alone think about the solution!! LOL

Sharon said...

I have tried to solve this one-however math is not my strong suit! Even after they figured it out, I was still like huh?

Cindy said...

I do fancy math for a living, but I think that I would blow up...LOL :)