How can 17 gallons of water be obtained, to take home?

Question

There are two unmarked buckets by a stream. The bucket hold 22 and 9 gallons of water, respectively. How can 17 gallons of water be obtained, to take home?

Answer 1

fill the 22 and pour 9 into the 9

that leaves 13

empty the 9

pour 9 into the 9 from the 13

that leaves 4 in the 22

empty the 9

pour the 4 into the 9

fill the 22 and pour 5 into the 9

that leaves 17 in the 22

Answer 2

Fill up the 9 gallon bucket once and pour this into the 22 gallon bucket.

Fill up the 9 gallon bucket again and pour this into the 22 gallon bucket, which now has 18 gallons.

Fill up the 9 gallon bucket a third time, and pour 4 gallons of it into the 22 gallon bucket, so that it is now full.

 

You would now have 5 gallons of water in the 9 gallon bucket.  Mark a line at the 5 gallon water level, and pour it back into the stream.

 

Pour 5 gallons from the 22 gallon bucket into the 9 gallon bucket, leaving you 17 gallons of water in the 22 gallon bucket.