For the jugs holding 9, 7, 4, and 2 litres, this flow diagram shows how the solution can be achieved in three distinct ways, using eight decantings of the wine and, in each case, 23 litres being poured back and forth to achieve the required result.

To measure out all the integer amounts from 1 to 8 litres using three jugs, one of which is full and holds 8 litres, there are several possible solutions. For example, for jugs with capacities 8, 3 and 2 litres, the following triples give the numbers of litres in each of the jugs at successive steps and all the amounts from 1 litre to 8 litres occur at some stage of the process: (8,0,0) (5,3,0) (5,1,2) (7,1,0) (7,0,1) (6,0,2) (6,2,0) (4,2,2). There are other solutions for capacities of 8, 4 and 3; for 8, 5 and 4; for 8, 5 and 1 etc.

Two different students from Wymondham High School, David Merrick and Rachel Tooke also submitted solutions. In answering their interpretation of the question they included a very useful table of results which showed at a glance the state of the jugs after any particular pouring.

Much later two students from Flegg High, Luke Blackwell and Ian Morris submitted a successful solution to this problem. They had found their answer after "hours of trouble, and help from Mrs Fenn".