Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/296 - Water Measurement

Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $296$

Water Measurement

A maid was sent to the brook with two vessels that exactly measured $7$ pints and $11$ pints exactly.

She had to bring back exactly $2$ pints of water.

What is the smallest possible number of transactions necessary?

A "transaction" is filling a vessel, of emptying it, or pouring from one vessel to another.

Sources

• 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Magic Square, Measuring, Weighing, and Packing Problems: $296$. -- Water Measurement
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Combinatorial & Topological Problems: Liquid Pouring Puzzles: $407$. Water Measurement