{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/puzzle--family-measurement","type":"mechanic","id":"puzzle--family-measurement","lang":"en","title":"Measuring, exchanging and allocating resources","summary":"The player obtains an exact quantity or composition through limited resource operations.","updatedAt":"2026-10-22","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/puzzle--family-measurement/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/puzzle--family-measurement.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/puzzle--family-measurement.md","aliases":["Measurement and allocation"],"tags":["Puzzles","Mechanics catalog"],"sourceIds":["source-e3462fbcf270ed6c"],"sources":[{"id":"source-e3462fbcf270ed6c","title":"SpaceChem","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/92800/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"Obtain accurate values ​​through a limited set of actions."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Variants and applications\n\n<a id=\"family-measurement-variants\"></a>\n\n- Search for different weights. Definition: Identify an unusual item based on the results of comparative weighings. Conditional example: Find a heavier coin using two weighings. <a id=\"variant-balance-counterfeit\"></a>\n- Getting weight with a set of weights. Definition: Dial the required value with restrictions on the use of both cups. Conditional example: Measure the mass with three weights. <a id=\"variant-weight-composition\"></a>\n- Measuring by transfusion. Definition: Obtain an exact volume using vessels of known capacity. Conditional example: Measure four liters with two jugs. <a id=\"variant-water-jugs\"></a>\n- Measuring time. Definition: Obtain the desired interval using a clock or processes with known properties. Conditional example: Measure the interval with two hourglasses. <a id=\"variant-time-measure\"></a>\n- Divide into equal shares. Definition: Divide a heterogeneous resource according to an explicitly specified equality criterion. Conditional example: Divide a set of ingots into parts of equal mass. <a id=\"variant-fair-division\"></a>\n- Chains of exchanges. Definition: Achieve the desired set through allowed resource conversions. Conditional example: Exchange tokens at three different rates. <a id=\"variant-resource-exchange\"></a>\n- Route with supplies. Definition: Distribute a limited resource between movement, storage and replenishment. Conditional example: Cross the desert, leaving fuel depots in advance. <a id=\"variant-fuel-routing\"></a>\n- Transportation with incompatibilities. Definition: Transfer all participants, respecting the capacity of the transport and restrictions on the remaining groups. Conditional example: Transport cargo that cannot be left with a certain passenger. Terms: river crossing. <a id=\"variant-river-transfer\"></a>"},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"A wide catalog of mechanics for digital puzzles, paper logic problems and physical puzzles. Each position contains an action or rule and a conditional example of application."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"puzzle","id":"family-measurement","title":"Puzzles","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/puzzle/#family-measurement","categoryIds":["section-1"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-22","title":"Measurement and allocation","description":"The player obtains an exact quantity or composition through limited resource operations.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/adventure-spacechem-03.webp","width":1024,"height":768,"game":"SpaceChem","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/92800/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/92800/ss_55448be442e88bd6e6ba6d0b00fbacb1cad8540a.1920x1080.jpg?t=1667072182","credit":"Zachtronics","rights":"Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.","caption":"Input molecules are broken down to the required composition","alt":"Input molecules are broken down to the required composition","markers":[{"x":6,"y":20,"label":"Limited input-molecule variants"},{"x":94,"y":52,"label":"Required output composition"}]},"tips":["Show initial quantities and permitted transformations clearly."],"examples":[{"title":"SpaceChem","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/92800/"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/puzzle"}}