TUTORIAL - PROBLEM SOLVING

Work in groups of two or three

Tutorial 1.1
Question 1: The Kings Elephant Problem.
Once upon a time the King of Siam asked his warriors to measure the weight of an
elephant. However the weight of the elephant was too heavy to be measured by the
biggest weighing machine available. Your task is to help the warriors to solve the
problem.
Question 2 : Abu Nawas Problem.
In one of the stories in One Thousand and One Night, Abu Nawas would only allow
any traveller to fetch water from the only well in the desert after solving the following
problem:
The travellers were given a 3-litre container and a 5-litre container. They have to
measure exactly four and seven litres of water using the above containers. You are
required to help the travellers solve the problem.

Tutorial 1.2 : Creative Problem Solving.

Identify the strategy that you used to solve the problems in Tutorial 1
Create another problem that can be solved using different strategy/strategies.
Group Presentation

Suggested answer : Tutorial 1.1

Answer 1: Kings elephant problem.

Put the elephant into a boat

Mark the water levels on its hull
Remove the elephant (the boat will rise in the water)
Place blocks of brick (ten kg each) on the boat until the water level rise again to the
marked line.
Calculate the number of blocks used and the total weight is equal to the weight of the
elephant

Answer 2 : The Abu Nawas Problem

Fill the bigger container with water

Use it to fill the smaller container
Now, you have exactly 2 liters in the bigger container
Empty the smaller container
Pour the 2 liters into the smaller container
Refill in the bigger container using the water supply
Pour the water into the smaller container that contains the 2 liters
The remaining water in the bigger container is exactly 4 liters