Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/298 - The Stolen Balsam

Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $298$

The Stolen Balsam

Three men robbed a gentleman of a vase containing $24$ ounces of balsam.

While running away, they met in the forest a glass seller, of whom, in a great hurry, they purchased three vessels.

On reaching a place of safety they wished to divide the booty,

but they found that their vessels contained $5$, $11$, and $13$ ounces respectively.

How could they divide the balsam into equal portions?

Sources

• 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Magic Square, Measuring, Weighing, and Packing Problems: $298$. -- The Stolen Balsam
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Combinatorial & Topological Problems: Liquid Pouring Puzzles: $409$. The Stolen Balsam