There are three measuring cups on a table with volumes of 1-cup, 1/2-cup, and 1/4-cup. There is also a 4-cup mixing bowl that is completely empty and leak proof.
Water is poured into the cups, and they are all filled to the brim.
All three measuring cups are then emptied into the large mixing bowl, without spilling a drop.
The mixing bowl, however, now only has less than a cup of water in it. How is this possible?
Answer
The 1/2-cup and 1/4-cup are stacked inside the 1-cup measuring cup. When all three are filled, simultaneously the total volume of water is less than one cup.
All three are then poured simultaneously into the mixing bowl.
