3 Answers

Fill the 5 gal. bucket. Pour it into 3 gal bucket until full. Empty 3 gal bucket. Pour remaining 2 gallons from 5 gal bucket into 3 gal bucket. Fill 5 gal bucket and pour 1 gal into 3 gal bucket (until full). You have 4 gallons left in the 5 gallon bucket.

Fill the 5 gallon bucket until it's 80% full. It works for me, and I'll have my project over and done with, while you're still standing around trying to figure out how to micro-manage your water!

you fill the 3 gallon bucket into the 5 gallon bucket twice 2 *3 6 gallons but the 5 gallon will only overflow once it hits 5 gallons. You get the 1 gallon half in the 3 gallon bucket and dump the water out of the 5 gallon bucket. You pour the 1 gallon left from the 3 gallon bucket into the 5 gallon bucket and then refill the 3 gallon bucket and put the 3 gallons in making 4 gallons.