Mathematical Recreations?

Three burglars steal a 24-ounce bottle of aged whiskey and some antique glassware. When they reach the safety of their “lair” they discover that the three glasses are different sizes: 5 ounces, 11 ounces, and 13 ounces. Can they divide the whiskey up (exactly) evenly between the three of them using just the stolen goods?

Yes, first fill up the 13 ounce glass using the bottle, then fill the 5 ounce glass with the 13 ounce glass and you have 8 ounces remaining in the 13 ounce glass… pour the 8 ounces into the 11ounce glass… now pour back the 5 ounce glass contents into the 13 ounce glass, and fill the rest of the 13 ounce glass up with the bottle… now refill the 5 ounce glass with the 13 ounce glass and you once again have 8 ounces remaining in the 13 ounce glass, you also have 8 in the 11 ounce glass, 5 ounces in the 5 ounce glass, and 3 ounces in the bottle… no pour the contents of the 5 ounce glass into the 24 ounce bottle and you have 8 ounces in the bottle…

Therefore you have 8 ounces in the 11 ounce glass… you have 8 ounces in the 13 ounce glass… and you have 8 ounces in the 24 ounce bottle… therefore you have equally divided the whiskey into 3 portions only using the stolen goods…

Hope this helps

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