Question

Prove or disprove that if you have an 8-gallon jug of water and two empty jugs with capacities of 5 gallons and 3 gallons, respectively, then you can measure 4 gallons by successively pouring some of or all of the water in a jug into another jug.

Short answer

We can measure 4-gallons by successively pouring some of or all of the water in a jug into another jug.

Step-by-step solution

Introduction

Consider there is an 8-gallon jug of water and two empty jugs with capacities of 5 gallons and 3 gallons respectively.

Then, measure 4 gallons by successively pouring some of or all of the water in a jug into another jug.

Proof using steps to be followed

Prove or disprove this statement by following these steps:

Step I: Fill the 3-gallon jug, and then pour it into the 5-gallon jug.

Step II: Fill the 3-gallon jug, and then pour it into the 5-gallon jug until that jug is full there will be 1-gallon left in the 3-gallon jug.

Step III: Empty the 5-gallon jug back into the 8-gallon jug.

Step IV: Pour the 1-gallon left in the 3-gallon jug into the 5-gallon jug.

Step V: Fill the 3-gallon jug

Step VI: Pour the 3-gallon jug into the 5-gallon jug, giving 4-gallons in total.