Mathematics Detective: A Hidden Solution to the Water Jar Problem
Joseph G. R. Martinez, Nancy C. Martinez · Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School · 2006
The Water Jar problem, which is discussed here, has been around since the early 1800s. The problem involves finding a specific amount of water by pouring water in and out of two different containers. In fact, one movie highlighted elements of the Water Jar problem in its storyline. The leading characters, one a police sergeant and the other a businessman, become involved in solving puzzles and problems related to a crime. The crime, of course, involves the classic Water Jar problem. Two containers, an unlimited amount of water but a very limited amount of time, and a pressure-sensitive mechanism that will trigger a catastrophe add drama to the movie and highlight the need for clear-headed logic to avoid a potentially disastrous dilemma.