---
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
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
---
# Measuring, exchanging and allocating resources

id: puzzle--family-measurement
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/puzzle--family-measurement
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/puzzle--family-measurement/

The player obtains an exact quantity or composition through limited resource operations.

## At a glance

![Input molecules are broken down to the required composition](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/adventure-spacechem-03.webp)

[SpaceChem](https://store.steampowered.com/app/92800/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. Limited input-molecule variants
2. Required output composition

- Show initial quantities and permitted transformations clearly.

- [SpaceChem](https://store.steampowered.com/app/92800/)

## How it works

Obtain accurate values ​​through a limited set of actions.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-measurement-variants"></a>

- 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>
- 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>
- 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>
- 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>
- 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>
- 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>
- 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>
- 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>

## Context and limits

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.

## Connected materials


## Sources and 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.

- [SpaceChem](https://store.steampowered.com/app/92800/) (id: source-e3462fbcf270ed6c)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors