Expert: Paul Klarreich - 9/23/2008

Question
There are two 1-liter carafes of wine. One is red wine the other is white. First I took a tablespoon of the red wine and poured it into the white mixing it until there was an even distribution of the red wine in the white wine. Next I took a tablespoon of the mostly white mixture and poured that back into the red wine. So is there more red wine in the white wine carafe or more white wine in the red wine carafe?

Answer
Questioner:   sborosak
Category:  Advanced Math
Private:  No
 
Subject:  wine problem
Question:  There are two 1-liter carafes of wine. One is red wine the other is white. First I took a tablespoon of the red wine and poured it into the white mixing it until there was an even distribution of the red wine in the white wine. Next I took a tablespoon of the mostly white mixture and poured that back into the red wine. So is there more red wine in the white wine carafe or more white wine in the red wine carafe?
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Hi, Sborosak,

This is an oldie -- some people do a lot of heavy algebra, but others use their noggins (a slang term for 'brains').

Answer a few questions.

1. When you are all done, do you have exactly one liter of liquid in each carafe?

Yes.

2. In the 'red' carafe, is some red wine missing????

Yes.

3. What is taking its place????

x ml of white wine.  We don't care what is x.

4. In the 'white' carafe, is some white wine missing????

Yes.

5. Where is it????

In the 'red' carafe.

6. So how much white wine is missing????

x ml.

What is taking its place?

---- got the idea now?