assignment 12

At a rural cabin, you get water from a well using only a 4-gallon bucket and a 9-gallon bucket. In a single trip from the well to the cabin, what whole number gallon amounts of water could you bring back to the cabin?

There are no markings on the pails.  And, you can’t do any estimating or add any markings!


here are the answers for this puzzle.



1- Fill up the 9 gallon bucket.  Pour 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 5 gallons in the 9 gallon bucket. Pour another 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 1 gallon.

2- Fill up the 9 gallon bucket.  Pour 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 5 gallons in the 9 gallon bucket. Pour another 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 1 gallon. Fill up the 9 gallon bucket again leaving you 10 gallons. Pour 3 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket  and pour it out leaving you 6 gallons. Fill up the 4 gallon bucket again and pour it out leaving you 2 gallons.

3- Fill up the 9 gallon bucket.  Pour 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 5 gallons in the 9 gallon bucket. Pour another 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 1 gallon. Fill up the 9 gallon bucket again leaving you 10 gallons. Pour 3 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket  and pour it out leaving you 6 gallons. Fill up the 4 gallon bucket again and pour it out leaving you 2 gallons. Pour the 2 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket and fill up the 9 gallon bucket giving you 11 gallons. Pour 2 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket and pour it out giving you 7 gallons. Pour 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket and pour it out leaving you 3 gallons.


4- Fill up the 4 gallon bucket.


5 -Fill up the 9 gallon bucket and pour 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 5 gallons.

6- Fill up the 9 gallon bucket.  Pour 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 5 gallons in the 9 gallon bucket. Pour another 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 1 gallon. Fill up the 9 gallon bucket again leaving you 10 gallons. pour 3 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket and pour it out leaving you 6 gallons.


7- Fill up the 9 gallon bucket.  Pour 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 5 gallons in the 9 gallon bucket. Pour another 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 1 gallon. Fill up the 9 gallon bucket again leaving you 10 gallons. Pour 3 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket  and pour it out leaving you 6 gallons. Fill up the 4 gallon bucket again and pour it out leaving you 2 gallons. Pour the 2 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket and fill up the 9 gallon bucket giving you 11 gallons. Pour 2 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket and pour it out leaving you 7 gallons.

8-Fill up the 4 gallon bucket and pour it in the 9 gallon bucket. Fill up the 4 gallon bucket again and pour it in the 9 gallon bucket and you have 8 gallons.

9- Fill up the 9 gallon bucket.

10- Fill up the 9 gallon bucket.  Pour 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 5 gallons in the 9 gallon bucket. Pour another 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 1 gallon. Fill up the 9 gallon bucket again and you have 10 gallon.

11- Fill up the 9 gallon bucket.  Pour 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 5 gallons in the 9 gallon bucket. Pour another 4 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket leaving 1 gallon. Fill up the 9 gallon bucket again giving you 10 gallons. Pour 3 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket  and pour it out leaving you 6 gallons. Fill up the 4 gallon bucket again and pour it out leaving you 2 gallons. Pour the 2 gallons into the 4 gallon bucket and fill up the 9 gallon bucket leaving you 11 gallons.


12- Fill up the 4 gallon bucket and pour it in the 9 gallon bucket. Fill up the 4 gallon bucket again and pour it in the 9 gallon bucket and giving you 8 gallons. Fill up the 4 gallon bucket again and you have 12 gallons.


13- Fill up both buckets.