I have come across this type of question recently and I can't seem to solve it?

[PB]

Ok so in S1, there is this type of problem where you have like 3 jugs, where each one holds 300mls, 500, 700 etc.
and you would probably have like 500mls in one of the jugs and 200 mls in another. Then the question stem usually asks, "what is the minimum amount of moves one must take to get 300mls in jug 2?" or something like that...
You know what I mean?
Ok well, I was wondering if you guys had any cool tips/strategies on how to deal with those types of questions, because otherwise I don't see any other method apart from the time-consuming trial and error method which might also have a high probablity of you finding a way of getting the 300mls, but not the shortest way...
Ok thanks +1

[Holmes]

It's actually not too time-consuming. The key to these questions is just persevering with it, they're actually pretty mindless and involve little thinking, you just have to keep on writing, and making a move each turn.

For example, if there's a question asking you for the minimum moves it takes to measure 400ml in a jug when you only have two containers, 500ml and 300ml, and you can only fill the jugs to the top with a tap, you just lay it out and mindlessly write.

3 5 (total capacity of each jug)

0 0 (starts at 0 ml)
0 5 (fill second one)
3 2 (the obvious thing to progress is to move this into the other jug)
0 2 (empty the other jug to progress)
2 0 (transfer)
2 5 (fill again)
3 4 (transfer)
voila!

[PB]

Thanks Holmes,
I shall try perservere with the method and see if it works