Classic maths puzzle

I came across this puzzle half an hour ago and found it very interesting. It dates back to the 13th century.

An abbot agrees to equally split his 8 litres of wine with another abbot. He has the 8 litres in a full 8 litre jar.

Unfortunately when he visits the other abbot, the other abbot only has a 5 litre jar and a 3 litre jar.

None of the three jars have any measurements on them.

What is the fewest number of moves the abbot can make, by pouring the wine between the jars, in order to give the other abbot exactly 4 litres of wine, keeping 4 for himself?

This took me about 5-6 minutes to work out, I got it on the 3rd attempt.

If nobody gets the right answer I'll post it here tomorrow.

Not sure if this is the shortest answer but I think it works

Answer given below in 'white' - copy and paste over it to see it!

1 - fill 3ltr jar up

2 - Pour into 5ltr

3 - fill 3ltr up again (from 8 ltr)

4 - pour into 5 ltr untill full - threfore 1 ltr remaining in the 3ltr jar.

5 - pour 5 ltr back into 8ltr jar

6 - pour the 1 ltr into the 5 ltr

7 - fill the 3 ltr full again

8 - pour the 3ltr to the existing 1ltr already in the 5 ltr jar.

Therefore each then now have 4 ltrs each.

Sluffy - I've sent you a PM.

If anyone else fancies giving it a go, don't view Sluffy's method first.

Ok, how about this -

1 - Fill 5 ltr up

2 - Pour 5ltr in to 3 ltr - leaving 2 ltr's remaining

3 - Pour 3 ltr back in to 8ltr

4 - Pour 2 lts in to 3 ltr jar

5 - Fill up 5ltr jar

6 - Top up 3ltr jar - ie 4ltrs will remain in 5ltr jar

7 - Pour the 3lts back into the 8ltrs - hence 4ltrs each!

An even quicker way!

1 - Fill up the 5ltr

2 - Pour in to the 3ltr - thus leaving 2lts left

3 Abbot A drinks the two ltrs!

4 - repeat steps 1 to 3 again

Both abbots have 4 ltrs!

QED Hic!

Yep - you got the right answer.

See if anyone else fancies a crack at it. Don't know if you think it's worth editing your last post so nobody is tempted to look at it.

I'm sure the good posters of Nuts are more than capable of beating this old fart without having to peak at what I've said!

It did get my old brain thinking though - which at my age is an exceedingly good thing!

Quite a tricky one was that. If I was the first abbot I would have kept the whole 8 litres for myself and saved a lot of time pissing about.

It's my 8 litres of wine so you will bloody well drink the 3 litres I'm offering and be grateful!