The Water Machine Puzzle with Sample Solutions

Solve the following problem and again try to remember what your thought processes are.

Bobbiy wanted to make a water machine. The diagram below shows how s/he took a container, put four holes in the side, a funnel on top, and connected a pipe to the funnel. Bobbiy wants to connect plastic tubes from the pipe to the holes so that when water is poured into the funnel it will/won't come out of none/some/all of the holes. Bobbiy wants to know all of the possible combinations that could be made before deciding. What are they?

Student sample answers

Chris

1. A, D

Fiona

1. A, B, C, D

Fran

1. A, B, C, D, AB, AC, BC, BC, CD, AD

Dee

1. ABCD, BCDA, CDAB, DABC,
AB, AC, AD, BA, BC, BD, CA, CB, CD, DA, DB, DC
ABC, ABD, ACD, BAC, BCD, BDA, CDA, CAB, CBD, DAB, DBC, DCA

Trav

1. ABCD, AB, AC, ABD, ABD, BC, BD, CD

Joe

1. ABCD, ABC, AB, A, BCD, BC, B, CD, C, D

Sara

1. AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, CD

Daniella

1. ABCD, ABC, ABD, AB, A
BCD, BC, BD, B
CD, C
D
ACD, AD, AC
None

Barbie

1. AB, AC, AD, ABC, ABD, ACD, BC, BD, CD, ABCD

Chou

1. AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, CD,
ABC, ABD, ACD, BCD, ABCD
A, B, C, D

Daniella

1. A, B, C, D, ABCD,
AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, CD,
ABC, ABD, ACD, BCD, None