Mixing vinegar and oil

1,522.2K Views

You have two jars.  One contains vinegar, the other oil.  The two jars contain the same amount of their respective fluid.

Take a spoonful of the vinegar and transfer it to the jar of oil.  Then, take a spoonful of liquid from the oil jar and transfer it to the vinegar jar.  Stir.  Now, how does the dilution of vinegar in the vinegar jar compare to the dilution of oil in the oil jar?

Share
Add Comment

  • 1 Answer(s)

    Both are equally dilute.

    assumptions: when transferring a mixture of liquids, half a spoon is oil and the other half is vinegar.

    Easy answer:
    consider both jars to initially contain only one spoonful of respective fluid. The dilutions after the process can be easily proved to be equal in both. both jars will have half spoonfuls of oil and vinegar.

    if you are not convinced
    Long answer:
    let both have x ml of liquids.
    one spoonful:  y ml 

    After first transfer, jars have  (x-y) ml of vinegar and  x ml of oil and  y ml of vinegar respectively.
    After second transfer: 
     y/2 ml of vinegar and y/2 ml of oil is transferred to jar containing vinegar.

    Jars now have:
    (x-y/2) ml of vinegar +y/2 ml of oil     and (x-y/2) ml of oil +y/2 ml of vinegar.
    Therefore, they are equally diluted.

    though dilution of oil in vinegar jar is not equal to that of vinegar on oil jar.
    🙂

    GeNiUs Genius Answered on 4th December 2015.
    Add Comment
  • Your Answer

    By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.
  • More puzzles to try-