Last visit was: 10 Jul 2025, 10:46 It is currently 10 Jul 2025, 10:46
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 10 July 2025
Posts: 102,622
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 98,170
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 102,622
Kudos: 740,134
 [18]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
15
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 10 Jul 2025
Posts: 16,101
Own Kudos:
74,245
 [7]
Given Kudos: 475
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,101
Kudos: 74,245
 [7]
6
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
sunaimshadmani
Joined: 05 Jun 2014
Last visit: 12 Apr 2019
Posts: 56
Own Kudos:
88
 [5]
Given Kudos: 51
GMAT 1: 630 Q42 V35
GMAT 1: 630 Q42 V35
Posts: 56
Kudos: 88
 [5]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
avatar
anupamadw
Joined: 31 Jul 2014
Last visit: 29 Jun 2016
Posts: 106
Own Kudos:
138
 [3]
Given Kudos: 373
GMAT 1: 630 Q48 V29
GMAT 1: 630 Q48 V29
Posts: 106
Kudos: 138
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel

Tough and Tricky questions: Word Problems.



Three completely unmarked containers are used for measuring water. Water may be poured from one container to another, but no water may be poured outside the containers. Using nothing but the three containers and an unlimited supply of water, is it possible to measure exactly 4 gallons of water?

(1) The capacity of the first container is 2 gallons more than the capacity of the second container.
(2) The capacity of the second container is 2 gallons more than the capacity of the third container.

Kudos for a correct solution.

If we consider - three containers c1,c2 and c3 then
stmnt 2) let c3 has capacity x then c2 has capacity x+2
If we fill c2 completely ( x+2 water ) and transfer water from c2 to c3 till it gets full
what we are left in c2 is x+2- x = 2
Now c2 has 2 gallons
We cant pour it in c1 as we dont know its capacity and also we cant pour this 2 gallons outside as an intermediate step and repeat same procedure to get 2+2 gallons...so I think statmnt2 is insufficient.

stmnt 1) same as statment2

statment1+2 we know
c1 is x+4, c2 is x+2 and c3 is x
so we can completely fill c1 and transfer water from c1 to c3 till it gets completely filled what we are left in c1 is 4 gallons.

IMO C
User avatar
anairamitch1804
Joined: 26 Oct 2016
Last visit: 20 Apr 2019
Posts: 506
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 877
Location: United States
Concentration: Marketing, International Business
Schools: HBS '19
GMAT 1: 770 Q51 V44
GPA: 4
WE:Education (Education)
Schools: HBS '19
GMAT 1: 770 Q51 V44
Posts: 506
Kudos: 3,526
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Pouring water from the larger container to the smaller container will leave exactly 2 gallons of water in the larger container. Repeating this operation twice will yield 4 gallons of water.

The problem is - where would these 4 gallons of water accumulate? We will need to use one of the containers. However, neither statement alone tells us whether one of the containers will hold 4 gallons of water.

On the other hand, statements (1) and (2) taken together ensure that the first container can hold at least 4 gallons of water. We know this because (from statement 1) the first container holds 2 gallons more than the second container, which (from statement 2) holds 2 gallons more than the third container, which must have a capacity greater than 0.

Since we know that the first container has a capacity of at least 4 gallons, there are several ways of measuring out this exact amount.
Hence C is the answer.
User avatar
hero_with_1000_faces
Joined: 02 Jan 2016
Last visit: 17 Mar 2025
Posts: 361
Own Kudos:
142
 [2]
Given Kudos: 314
Status:Studying 4Gmat
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Entrepreneurship
GMAT 1: 590 Q37 V33
GPA: 4
WE:Law (Manufacturing)
Products:
GMAT 1: 590 Q37 V33
Posts: 361
Kudos: 142
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A question right out of Die Hard Movie.
avatar
Manick9
Joined: 25 May 2016
Last visit: 07 Jan 2025
Posts: 78
Own Kudos:
83
 [2]
Given Kudos: 497
Location: Singapore
Concentration: Finance, General Management
GMAT 1: 620 Q46 V30
GMAT 1: 620 Q46 V30
Posts: 78
Kudos: 83
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Container 1 can hold 2L > Container 2
Container 2 can hold 2L > Container 3

Therefore, Container 1 can hold 4L > Container 3.

Fill up Container 1 fully and then transfer the water to Container 3. You would be left with 4L in container 1.

Therefore, C is the right answer.
avatar
Engineer1
Joined: 01 Jan 2014
Last visit: 15 Jun 2025
Posts: 207
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 457
Location: United States (IN)
Concentration: Strategy, Finance
Posts: 207
Kudos: 535
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
KarishmaB
Bunuel

Tough and Tricky questions: Word Problems.



Three completely unmarked containers are used for measuring water. Water may be poured from one container to another, but no water may be poured outside the containers. Using nothing but the three containers and an unlimited supply of water, is it possible to measure exactly 4 gallons of water?

(1) The capacity of the first container is 2 gallons more than the capacity of the second container.
(2) The capacity of the second container is 2 gallons more than the capacity of the third container.

Kudos for a correct solution.

If this were a usual puzzle, each statement alone would be sufficient but this is a data sufficiency question and you cannot assume anything so here the answer will be (C). Here is why:

Three containers and unlimited water. How will you measure 4 gallons?

(1) The capacity of the first container is 2 gallons more than the capacity of the second container.
Step 1: Fill the first container to brim.
Step 2: Pour its water into second container till it is full.
Step 3: Now leftover water in first container is 2 gallons. You pour this 2 gallons in third container.
Step 4: Empty second container and repeat steps 1 and 2.
You now have 4 gallons, 2 gallons in third container and 2 gallons in first container.
The problem in a data sufficiency question is that you cannot assume that the third container can hold 2 gallons. What if its capacity is only 1 gallon? Where do you put the 2 gallons of water then? This makes statement 1 alone INSUFFICIENT.


(2) The capacity of the second container is 2 gallons more than the capacity of the third container.
This statement alone is exactly like statement 1 alone. Just that the containers are different but the case is exactly the same. This makes statement 2 alone INSUFFICIENT.

Using both, we now know that capacity of first container is 4 gallons more than the capacity of third container. Now all you have to do is fill first container and pour its water in third container till it fills up. Whatever is left in first container is 4 gallons.

Answer (C)


Hi KarishmaB ,I don't have problem solving this question. But to me the wording is not clear (if not misleading). It says "is it possible to measure exactly 4 gallons of water". I have problem with exactly. Yeah it can measure at least 4 gallons, since ultimately we know container 1 can hold > 4 gallons. What is your thought on the wording in the question? Thanks!
User avatar
Fungano
Joined: 22 Feb 2025
Last visit: 16 Apr 2025
Posts: 1
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
if you fill the first container and than you use the water in this container to fill the secondo, in the first container will remain exactly 2 gallons right? If you do this thing 2 times and each time move the remaining water in the third container, we could also use only one of the two statements at a time. So the answer could also be D. Please tell me if it's not right.

Bunuel
Three completely unmarked containers are used for measuring water. Water may be poured from one container to another, but no water may be poured outside the containers. Using nothing but the three containers and an unlimited supply of water, is it possible to measure exactly 4 gallons of water?

(1) The capacity of the first container is 2 gallons more than the capacity of the second container.
(2) The capacity of the second container is 2 gallons more than the capacity of the third container.
Moderator:
Math Expert
102621 posts