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Measure one litre using two vessels and infinite water supply

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There are two vessels of capacities ‘a’ and ‘b’ respectively. We have infinite water supply. Give an efficient algorithm to make exactly 1 litre of water in one of the vessels. You can throw all the water from any vessel any point of time. Assume that ‘a’ and ‘b’ are Coprimes.
Following are the steps: 
Let V1 be the vessel of capacity ‘a’ and V2 be the vessel of capacity ‘b’ and ‘a’ is smaller than ‘b’. 
1) Do following while the amount of water in V1 is not 1. 
….a) If V1 is empty, then completely fill V1 
….b) Transfer water from V1 to V2. If V2 becomes full, then keep the remaining water in V1 and empty V2 
2) V1 will have 1 litre after termination of loop in step 1. Return.
Following is C++ implementation of the above algorithm. 
 

C++




/* Sample run of the Algo for V1 with capacity 3 and V2 with capacity 7
1. Fill V1:                             V1 = 3, V2 = 0
2. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 3
2. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 6
3. Transfer from V1 to V2, and empty V2: V1 = 2, V2 = 0
4. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 2
5. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 5
6. Transfer from V1 to V2, and empty V2: V1 = 1, V2 = 0
7. Stop as V1 now contains 1 litre.
  
Note that V2 was made empty in steps 3 and 6 because it became full */
  
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
  
// A utility function to get GCD of two numbers
int gcd(int a, int b) { return b? gcd(b, a % b) : a; }
  
// Class to represent a Vessel
class Vessel
{
    // A vessel has capacity, and current amount of water in it
    int capacity, current;
public:
    // Constructor: initializes capacity as given, and current as 0
    Vessel(int capacity) { this->capacity = capacity; current = 0; }
  
    // The main function to fill one litre in this vessel. Capacity of V2
    // must be greater than this vessel and two capacities must be co-prime
    void makeOneLitre(Vessel &V2);
  
    // Fills vessel with given amount and returns the amount of water
    // transferred to it. If the vessel becomes full, then the vessel
    // is made empty.
    int transfer(int amount);
};
  
// The main function to fill one litre in this vessel. Capacity
// of V2 must be greater than this vessel and two capacities
// must be coprime
void Vessel:: makeOneLitre(Vessel &V2)
{
    // solution exists if a and b are co-prime
    if (gcd(capacity, V2.capacity) != 1)
        return;
  
    while (current != 1)
    {
        // fill A (smaller vessel)
        if (current == 0)
            current = capacity;
  
        cout << "Vessel 1: " << current << " Vessel 2: "
            << V2.current << endl;
  
        // Transfer water from V1 to V2 and reduce current of V1 by
        // the amount equal to transferred water
        current = current - V2.transfer(current);
    }
  
    // Finally, there will be 1 litre in vessel 1
    cout << "Vessel 1: " << current << " Vessel 2: "
        << V2.current << endl;
}
  
// Fills vessel with given amount and returns the amount of water
// transferred to it. If the vessel becomes full, then the vessel
// is made empty
int Vessel::transfer(int amount)
{
    // If the vessel can accommodate the given amount
    if (current + amount < capacity)
    {
        current += amount;
        return amount;
    }
  
    // If the vessel cannot accommodate the given amount, then
    // store the amount of water transferred
    int transferred = capacity - current;
  
    // Since the vessel becomes full, make the vessel
    // empty so that it can be filled again
    current = 0;
  
    return transferred;
}
  
// Driver program to test above function
int main()
{
    int a = 3, b = 7; // a must be smaller than b
  
    // Create two vessels of capacities a and b
    Vessel V1(a), V2(b);
  
    // Get 1 litre in first vessel
    V1.makeOneLitre(V2);
  
    return 0;
}


C#




/* Sample run of the Algo for V1 with capacity 3 and V2 with capacity 7
1. Fill V1:                             V1 = 3, V2 = 0
2. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 3
2. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 6
3. Transfer from V1 to V2, and empty V2: V1 = 2, V2 = 0
4. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 2
5. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 5
6. Transfer from V1 to V2, and empty V2: V1 = 1, V2 = 0
7. Stop as V1 now contains 1 litre.
  
Note that V2 was made empty in steps 3 and 6 because it became full */
  
using System;
  
class GFG
{
  
    // A utility function to get GCD of two numbers
    static int gcd(int a, int b) 
    {
        return b > 0 ? gcd(b, a % b) : a;
    }
  
    // Class to represent a Vessel
    class Vessel 
    {
          
        // A vessel has capacity, and 
        // current amount of water in it
        int capacity, current;
  
        // Constructor: initializes capacity
        // as given, and current as 0
        public Vessel(int capacity)
        {
            this.capacity = capacity;
            current = 0;
        }
  
        // The main function to fill one litre 
        // in this vessel. Capacity of V2 must be
        // greater than this vessel and two capacities
        // must be coprime
        public void makeOneLitre(Vessel V2)
        {
            // solution exists if a and b are co-prime
            if (gcd(capacity, V2.capacity) != 1)
                return;
  
            while (current != 1)
            {
                // fill A (smaller vessel)
                if (current == 0)
                    current = capacity;
  
                Console.Write("Vessel 1: " + current + 
                            " Vessel 2: " + V2.current + "\n");
  
                // Transfer water from V1 to V2 and 
                // reduce current of V1 by
                // the amount equal to transferred water
                current = current - V2.transfer(current);
            }
  
            // Finally, there will be 1 litre in vessel 1
            Console.Write("Vessel 1: " + current + 
                        " Vessel 2: " + V2.current + "\n");
        }
  
        // Fills vessel with given amount and 
        // returns the amount of water
        // transferred to it. If the vessel 
        // becomes full, then the vessel
        // is made empty
        int transfer(int amount)
        {
            // If the vessel can accommodate the given amount
            if (current + amount < capacity) 
            {
                current += amount;
                return amount;
            }
  
            // If the vessel cannot accommodate
            // the given amount, then store
            // the amount of water transferred
            int transferred = capacity - current;
  
            // Since the vessel becomes full, make the vessel
            // empty so that it can be filled again
            current = 0;
  
            return transferred;
        }
    }
  
    // Driver program to test above function
    public static void Main(String[] args)
    {
        int a = 3, b = 7; // a must be smaller than b
  
        // Create two vessels of capacities a and b
        Vessel V1 = new Vessel(a);
        Vessel V2 = new Vessel(b);
  
        // Get 1 litre in first vessel
        V1.makeOneLitre(V2);
    }
}
  
// This code is contributed by Rajput-Ji


Java




/* Sample run of the Algo for V1 with capacity 3 and V2 with capacity 7
1. Fill V1:                             V1 = 3, V2 = 0
2. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 3
2. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 6
3. Transfer from V1 to V2, and empty V2: V1 = 2, V2 = 0
4. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 2
5. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 5
6. Transfer from V1 to V2, and empty V2: V1 = 1, V2 = 0
7. Stop as V1 now contains 1 litre.
  
Note that V2 was made empty in steps 3 and 6 because it became full */
  
class GFG
{
  
    // A utility function to get GCD of two numbers
    static int gcd(int a, int b)
    {
        return b > 0 ? gcd(b, a % b) : a;
    }
  
    // Class to represent a Vessel
    static class Vessel
    {
          
        // A vessel has capacity, and
        // current amount of water in it
        int capacity, current;
  
        // Constructor: initializes capacity
        // as given, and current as 0
        public Vessel(int capacity)
        {
            this.capacity = capacity;
            current = 0;
        }
  
        // The main function to fill one litre
        // in this vessel. Capacity of V2 must be
        // greater than this vessel and two capacities
        // must be coprime
        void makeOneLitre(Vessel V2)
        {
            // solution exists if a and b are co-prime
            if (gcd(capacity, V2.capacity) != 1)
                return;
  
            while (current != 1)
            {
                // fill A (smaller vessel)
                if (current == 0)
                    current = capacity;
  
                System.out.print("Vessel 1: " + current +
                            " Vessel 2: " + V2.current + "\n");
  
                // Transfer water from V1 to V2 and
                // reduce current of V1 by
                // the amount equal to transferred water
                current = current - V2.transfer(current);
            }
  
            // Finally, there will be 1 litre in vessel 1
            System.out.print("Vessel 1: " + current +
                        " Vessel 2: " + V2.current + "\n");
        }
  
        // Fills vessel with given amount and
        // returns the amount of water
        // transferred to it. If the vessel
        // becomes full, then the vessel
        // is made empty
        int transfer(int amount)
        {
            // If the vessel can accommodate the given amount
            if (current + amount < capacity)
            {
                current += amount;
                return amount;
            }
  
            // If the vessel cannot accommodate
            // the given amount, then store
            // the amount of water transferred
            int transferred = capacity - current;
  
            // Since the vessel becomes full, make the vessel
            // empty so that it can be filled again
            current = 0;
  
            return transferred;
        }
    }
  
    // Driver program to test above function
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        int a = 3, b = 7; // a must be smaller than b
  
        // Create two vessels of capacities a and b
        Vessel V1 = new Vessel(a);
        Vessel V2 = new Vessel(b);
  
        // Get 1 litre in first vessel
        V1.makeOneLitre(V2);
    }
}
  
// This code is contributed by 29AjayKumar


Python3




# Sample run of the Algo for V1 with capacity 3 and V2 with capacity 7
# 1. Fill V1:                             V1 = 3, V2 = 0
# 2. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 3
# 2. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 6
# 3. Transfer from V1 to V2, and empty V2: V1 = 2, V2 = 0
# 4. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 2
# 5. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 5
# 6. Transfer from V1 to V2, and empty V2: V1 = 1, V2 = 0
# 7. Stop as V1 now contains 1 litre.
  
# Note that V2 was made empty in steps 3 and 6 because it became full 
      
# A utility function to get GCD of two numbers
def gcd(a,b):
    return gcd(b, a % b) if(b > 0) else a
      
      
# Class to represent a Vessel
class Vessel:
  
    # Constructor: initializes capacity
    # as given, and current as 0
    def __init__(self,capacity):
  
        self.capacity = capacity
        self.current = 0
  
    # The main function to fill one litre
    # in this vessel. Capacity of V2 must be
    # greater than this vessel and two capacities
    # must be coprime
    def makeOneLitre(self,V2):
  
        # solution exists if a and b are co-prime
        if (gcd(self.capacity, V2.capacity) != 1):
            return
  
        while (self.current != 1):
          
            # fill A (smaller vessel)
            if (self.current == 0):
                self.current = self.capacity
  
            print(f"Vessel 1: {self.current} Vessel 2: {V2.current}")
  
            # Transfer water from V1 to V2 and
            # reduce current of V1 by
            # the amount equal to transferred water
            self.current = self.current - V2.transfer(self.current)
              
        # Finally, there will be 1 litre in vessel 1
        print(f"Vessel 1: {self.current} Vessel 2: {V2.current}")
  
    # Fills vessel with given amount and
    # returns the amount of water
    # transferred to it. If the vessel
    # becomes full, then the vessel
    # is made empty
    def transfer(self,amount):
  
        # If the vessel can accommodate the given amount
        if (self.current + amount < self.capacity):
            self.current += amount
            return amount
          
        # If the vessel cannot accommodate
        # the given amount, then store
        # the amount of water transferred
        transferred = self.capacity - self.current
  
        # Since the vessel becomes full, make the vessel
        # empty so that it can be filled again
        self.current = 0
  
        return transferred
  
# Driver program to test above function
a,b = 3,7 # a must be smaller than b
  
# Create two vessels of capacities a and b
V1 = Vessel(a)
V2 = Vessel(b)
  
# Get 1 litre in first vessel
V1.makeOneLitre(V2)
  
# This code is contributed by shinjanpatra


Javascript




<script>
/* Sample run of the Algo for V1 with capacity 3 and V2 with capacity 7
1. Fill V1:                             V1 = 3, V2 = 0
2. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 3
2. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 6
3. Transfer from V1 to V2, and empty V2: V1 = 2, V2 = 0
4. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 2
5. Transfer from V1 to V2, and fill V1: V1 = 3, V2 = 5
6. Transfer from V1 to V2, and empty V2: V1 = 1, V2 = 0
7. Stop as V1 now contains 1 litre.
    
Note that V2 was made empty in steps 3 and 6 because it became full */
      
    // A utility function to get GCD of two numbers
    function gcd(a,b)
    {
        return b > 0 ? gcd(b, a % b) : a;
    }
      
 // Class to represent a Vessel    
class Vessel 
{
    // Constructor: initializes capacity
        // as given, and current as 0
    constructor(capacity)
    {
        this.capacity = capacity;
        this.current = 0;
    }
      
    // The main function to fill one litre 
        // in this vessel. Capacity of V2 must be
        // greater than this vessel and two capacities
        // must be coprime
    makeOneLitre(V2)
    {
        // solution exists if a and b are co-prime
            if (gcd(this.capacity, V2.capacity) != 1)
                return;
    
            while (this.current != 1)
            {
                // fill A (smaller vessel)
                if (this.current == 0)
                    this.current = this.capacity;
    
                document.write("Vessel 1: " + this.current + 
                            " Vessel 2: " + V2.current + "<br>");
    
                // Transfer water from V1 to V2 and 
                // reduce current of V1 by
                // the amount equal to transferred water
                this.current = this.current - V2.transfer(this.current);
            }
    
            // Finally, there will be 1 litre in vessel 1
            document.write("Vessel 1: " + this.current + 
                        " Vessel 2: " + V2.current + "<br>");
    }
      
    // Fills vessel with given amount and 
        // returns the amount of water
        // transferred to it. If the vessel 
        // becomes full, then the vessel
        // is made empty
    transfer(amount)
    {
        // If the vessel can accommodate the given amount
            if (this.current + amount < this.capacity) 
            {
                this.current += amount;
                return amount;
            }
    
            // If the vessel cannot accommodate
            // the given amount, then store
            // the amount of water transferred
            let transferred = this.capacity - this.current;
    
            // Since the vessel becomes full, make the vessel
            // empty so that it can be filled again
            this.current = 0;
    
            return transferred;
    }
}
  
// Driver program to test above function
let a = 3, b = 7; // a must be smaller than b
    
// Create two vessels of capacities a and b
let V1 = new Vessel(a);
let V2 = new Vessel(b);
  
// Get 1 litre in first vessel
V1.makeOneLitre(V2);
  
  
// This code is contributed by rag2127
</script>


Output: 

Vessel 1: 3   Vessel 2: 0
Vessel 1: 3   Vessel 2: 3
Vessel 1: 3   Vessel 2: 6
Vessel 1: 2   Vessel 2: 0
Vessel 1: 3   Vessel 2: 2
Vessel 1: 3   Vessel 2: 5
Vessel 1: 1   Vessel 2: 0

How does this work? 
To prove that the algorithm works, we need to proof that after certain number of iterations in the while loop, we will get 1 litre in V1. 
Let ‘a’ be the capacity of vessel V1 and ‘b’ be the capacity of V2. Since we repeatedly transfer water from V1 to V2 until V2 becomes full, we will have ‘a – b (mod a)’ water in V1 when V2 becomes full first time . Once V2 becomes full, it is emptied. We will have ‘a – 2b (mod a)’ water in V1 when V2 is full second time. We repeat the above steps, and get ‘a – nb (mod a)’ water in V1 after the vessel V2 is filled and emptied ‘n’ times. We need to prove that the value of ‘a – nb (mod a)’ will be 1 for a finite integer ‘n’. To prove this, let us consider the following property of coprime numbers. 
For any two coprime integers ‘a’ and ‘b’, the integer ‘b’ has a multiplicative inverse modulo ‘a’. In other words, there exists an integer ‘y’ such that ‘b*y ? 1(mod)a’ (See 3rd point here). After ‘(a – 1)*y’ iterations, we will have ‘a – [(a-1)*y*b (mod a)]’ water in V1, the value of this expression is ‘a – [(a – 1) * 1] mod a’ which is 1. So the algorithm converges and we get 1 litre in V1.
This article is compiled by Aashish Barnwal.
 



Last Updated : 11 Sep, 2023
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