How about:
1. StringBuffer s1 = new StringBuffer("abc");
1 builder object + 1 char[] object + (1 String literal, if created)
2. StringBuffer s2 = s1;
No new objects.
3. StringBuffer s3 = new StringBuffer("abc");
1 builder object + 1 char[] object
A StringBuilder encapsulates the backing char[] inside, which is an object.
As @StephenC says the question is ambiguous.
