How can you share a paper cup of soda with two friends? It’s a large cup, 24 ounces. You have three other cups that hold 5, 11, and 13 ounces respectively. Figure out how to pour the soda around so as to create three equal portions.
Solution
Use the full 24 oz. cup to fill the 13 oz. cup. Then use the full 13 oz. cup to fill the 5 oz. cup. The 13 oz. cup now has 8 oz. in it, exactly one third of the original 24 oz. Pour these 8 oz. into the 11 oz. cup and hand it to a friend.
Now return all the remaining liquid to the 24 oz. cup which will now contain 16 oz. Using these 16 oz. fill once again the 13 oz. cup and use this cup to fill the 5 oz. cup. The 13 oz. cup now holds 8 oz. Hand this cup to another friend. Pour the 5 oz. in the 5 oz. cup into the original cup which will now contain 8 oz.
Enjoy!