Time and Work

Power Rangers:
Shortcut rule 1:
If A can do a work in ‘x’ days and B can do the same work
Introduction: in ‘y’ days, then the number of days required to complete
(𝑥 * 𝑦)
Work: the work if A and B work together is (𝑥 + 𝑦)
Technically speaking, Work is the quantity of energy Example : A takes 5 days to complete a piece of work and
transferred from one system to another. But for questions B takes 15 days to complete a piece of work. In how many
based on this topic, Work is defined as the amount of job days can A and B complete the work if they work together
assigned or the amount of job actually done. Work to be
done is generally considered as one unit. Solution: x=5, y=15
It may be digging a trench, constructing or painting a wall, we get (5*15)/(5+15)=15/4 days
filling up or emptying a tank, reservoir or a cistern.
Power Rangers:
Time: Duration required /taken to complete the work. Shortcut rule2:
If A can do a work in ‘x’ days and A + B can do the same
Efficiency: work in ‘y’ days, then the number of days required to
Efficiency is the rate at which the work is done. Suppose a (𝑥 * 𝑦)
person can complete a particular work in 5 days then we can complete the work if B works alone is (𝑥 − 𝑦)
say that, Example: Amit and Anand can finish an assignment
(i) The person does 1/5th of the work every day, or together in 24 days. Amit will take 60 days if he works
(ii) The person’s efficiency is 20%. alone .How many days will Anand take to complete the
When two or more persons work together, the rate of doing assignment if he works alone?
work gets added.
Solution: x=24 ,y=60
Important concept: (24*60)/(24-60)=40 days

1. Work from Days: If A can do a piece of work in n days, Power Rangers:

then A's 1 day's work = (1/n) and this one day’s work in terms Shortcut rule3:
of percentage is called efficiency If A, B and C can do a work in x, y and z days respectively
then all of them working together can finish the work in :
2. Days from Work: If A's 1 day's work =1/n, then A can (𝑥𝑦𝑧)
finish the work in n days. (𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑥𝑧)
Example: A can do a piece of work in 10 days, B can do it
3. Ratio: If A is thrice as good a workman as B, then: in 12 days and C can do it in 15 days .In how many days
Ratio of work done by A and B =3:1. they can complete the work, working together?
Ratio of times taken by A and B to finish a work =1:3
Solution: x=10 ,y=12, z=15
Individual work (10×12×15)/(10×12+12×15+15×10) =4 days
Example1. A takes 5 days to complete a piece of work and B
takes 15 days to complete a piece of work. In how many Relation between Efficiency and Time:
days can A and B complete the work if they work together? Efficiency is inversely proportional to the time (i.e. ., number
of days, hours, minutes) etc.
Standard Solution: Let us consider Work to be 1 unit. So if
W = 1 Unit and A takes 5 days to complete the work then in 1 Example1. A is twice as efficient as B and can complete a
day A completes 1/5th of the work. Similarly B completes job 30 days before B. In how much they can complete the job
1/15th of the work. together?
If they work together, in one day A and B can complete (1/5 + Solution - Let efficiency percentage as x
1/15 = 4/15) of the work. So to complete 1 unit of work they A's efficiency = 2x and B's efficiency = x
will take 15/4 days. A is twice efficient and can complete the job 30 days before
B. So,
New method: Let us assume W = 15 units, which is the LCM A can complete the job in 30 days and B can complete the
of 5 and 15. job in 60 days
Given that total time taken for A to complete 15 units of work A's efficiency = 1/30 = 3.33%
= 5 days B's efficiency = 1/60 = 1.66%
A’s 1 day work = 15/5 = 3 units Both can do 5% (3.33% + 1.66%) of the job in 1 day.
Given that total time taken for B to complete 15 units of work So the can complete the whole job in 20 days (100/5)
= 15 days
B’s 1 day work = 15/15 = 1 unit Man Hour Work:
(A + B)’s 1 day work = 3 + 1 = 4 units Concept: Let‘s take an example of building a bridge.
15 units of work can be done in 15/4 days. You have been told that 10 men worked for 10 days and 8
hours daily to complete the above task.
 Time and Work

Now let’s analyze a few different cases by changing some of

the above variables associated with the task. Power Rangers:
Shortcut2:
Case1: You are asked to build a similar bridge at some other If M1 persons can do W1 work in D1 days for h1 hours
place but with less number of people (say 8) then it’s quite and M2 persons can do W2 work in D2 days for h2
obvious that the number of days required shall increase. hours, then
(𝑀1 𝐷1 𝐻1)
=
(𝑀2 𝐷2 𝐻2)
𝑊1 𝑊2
(Note: Here we are assuming that each man does same
amount of work in a given time frame)
Example:20 men take 21 days to fill 1000 matchboxes
Case 2: You have to build one more bridge with 10 men but working 8 hours a day .How many days will 24 men take
the number of working hours is reduced to 6 hr daily. In this to fill 1500 matchboxes if they work 7 hours a day?
case the number of days’ also increases.
Solution: M1=20, M2=24, D1=21, H1=8,
Case 3: Let’s consider another case where we are in a hurry H2=7,W1=1000,W2=1500
and required to finish the work in less number of days (say D2= 30 days
5).
Then what will we have to do? Negative Work:
We have to increase either the number of workers or the When a person makes some units and the other destroys it.
number of working hours per day or both. Suppose, A and B are working to build a wall while C is
working to break the wall. In such case, the wall is being built
Case 4: Finally let’s consider a situation where we are by while it is broken by C. here, we consider that A and B are
required to build more than one bridge (say 2). doing positive work in building the wall while C is doing a
Here if we want to build the bridge in 10 days then we would negative work as he is breaking the wall
be required to increase either the number of workers or the
number of working hours per day or both. Example1. A can build a wall in 10 days and B can build it in
If we don’t increase the number of workers or working hours 5 days, while C can completely
then the time taken to complete the bridge will be definitely Destroy the wall in 20 days. If they start working at the same
more. time, in how many days will the
From all the above cases it can be concluded that each Work be completed?
task/work can be represented with 4 variables
M = number of men Solution:
D = number of days A's one day work= 100/10= 10%
H = number of hours per day B's one day work=100/5=20%
W = amount of work C's one day work=100/20= 5%. [This work is taken as
MDH/W = Constant negative].
The net combined work per day= (10+20­5) % =25%.
Example1. If 10 men take 15 days to complete a work. In Hence work will be completed in 100/25= 4 days.
how many days will 25 men complete the work?
Pipe and Cistern
Solution: Given that 10 men take 15 days to complete the Introduction:
work. So the number of mandays required to complete the Pipe and Cistern problems are similar to time and work
work = 10 × 15 mandays. So assume W = 150 mandays. problems.
Now the work has to be done by 25 men and since W = 150 A pipe is used to fill or empty the tank or cistern.
mandays, the number of days to complete the work would be
150/25 = 6 days. Inlet Pipe: A pipe used to fill the tank or cistern is known as
Inlet Pipe.
Power Rangers:
Outlet Pipe: A pipe used to empty the tank or cistern is
Shortcut1: known as Outlet Pipe
If M1 persons can do W1 works in D1 days and M2
persons can do W2 works in D2 days then relationship is Important concept
(𝑀1 𝐷1) (𝑀2 𝐷2) 1. If an inlet pipe can fill the tank in x hours, then the part
given by 𝑊1 = 𝑊2 1
filled in 1 hour = 𝑥
Example: 30 labor can complete a piece of work in 32 2. If an outlet pipe can empty the tank in y hours, then part of
1
days. In how many days 15 labor can complete same the tank emptied in 1 hour = 𝑦
work 3. If both inlet and outlet valves are kept open, then net part
1 1
Solution: M1=30, D1=32 M2=15 D2=? of the tank filled in 1 hour is 𝑥
- 𝑦
D2= 64 days
 Time and Work

the remaining work. If they earn Rs.750 for the job, find B’s
share?
Power Rangers: A. 450 B. 500 C. 600 D. 650
Shortcut rule 1:
Two pipes can fill (or empty) a cistern in x and y hours 7. A can complete a piece of work in 20 days and B can
while working alone. If both pipes are opened together, complete the same work in 30 days. In how many days the
then the time taken to fill (or empty) the cistern is given by work will be completed if they work together?
𝑥𝑦 A. 25 B. 20 C. 16 D. 12
𝑥+𝑦

8. Girish and Deepak agree to complete a piece of work in 30

Power Rangers: days. They also agree to forfeit double the amount of wages
Shortcut rule2: corresponding to the uncompleted part of work, if they fail to
Three pipes can fill (or empty) a cistern in x, y and z hours complete the work in time. If Girish alone can complete the
while working alone. If all the three pipes are opened work in 60 days and they lost 1/3rd of the pay due for the
together, the time taken to fill (or empty) the cistern is total-work, in how many days can Deepak alone complete
𝑥𝑦𝑧
given by 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧𝑥 the work?
A. 45 B. 90 C. 60 D. 120
Power Rangers:
GROUP WORK:
Shortcut rule3:
9. If 5 monkeys can eat 5 bananas in 5 minutes. How much
If a pipe can fill a cistern in x hours and another can fill the
time will it take for 9 monkeys to eat 9 bananas?
same cistern in y hours, but a third one can empty the full
A. 9 min B. 5 min C. 7 min D. None
tank in z hours, and all of them are opened together, then
1 1 1
Net part filled in 1 hr = 𝑥 + 𝑦 - 𝑧 10. 45 men can complete a work in 16 days. 6 days after
Time taken to fill cistern=
𝑥𝑦𝑧 they started working, 30 more men joined them. How many
𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧𝑥
more days will they take to complete the remaining work?
A. 8 days B. 6 days C. 10 days D. 12 days
Power Rangers:
Shortcut rule4: 11. Susan can type 10 pages in 5 minutes. Mary can type 5
A pipe can fill a cistern in x hours. Because of a leak in the pages in 10 minutes. Working together, how many pages can
bottom, it is filled in y hours. If it is full, the time taken by they type in 30 minutes?
𝑥𝑦
the leak to empty the cistern is 𝑦 − 𝑥 A. 15 B. 50 C. 75 D. 25

Individual work: 12. The work done by a woman in 6 days is equal to the work
1. A can complete a piece of work in 10 days and B can done by two girls in 8 days. How many women are needed to
complete the same work in 15 days. In how many days the do a piece of work in 48 days which 72 girls can do in 16
work will be completed if they work together? days?
A. 6 Days B. 5 Days C. 8 Days D. 10 Days A. 8 B. 9 C. 10 D. 11

2. If A and B together can complete (1/7)th of the total work 13. 12 men can dig a well in 15 days, working 8 hours a day.
in one day then, in how many days can they complete the How many days will 18 men require to dig a similar well
whole work? working for 5 hours a day?
A. 7 days B. 14 days C. 7/2 days D. None A. 16 B. 12 C. 10 D. 14

3. A, working alone can make a cabinet in 12 days. B will 14. A piece of work when done by a man, a woman and a
take 6 days more than A to do the same work. A and B along child costs Rs.480, Rs.540 and Rs.720 respectively. Their
with the help of C completes it in 5 days. If they are paid Rs. respective daily wages are Rs.40, Rs.30 and Rs.20. If all the
9000 for the job, find C’s share? three are employed to do the work, how much would it cost
A. 3250 B. 2250 C. 2500 D. None to complete the work (in Rs.)?
A. 720 B. 520 C. 540 D. 400
4. Ram alone can paint a wall in 7 days and his friend Roy
alone paints the same wall in 9 days. In how many days they 15. 2 men or 5 women can complete a piece of work in 27
can paint the wall working together? (Round off your answer) days. In how many days can 4 men and 5 women complete
A. 4 B. 3 C. 5 D. 7 the same work?
A. 8 B. 7 C. 9 D. 5
5. a. A can do a piece of work in 4 days and B can do the
same work in 6 days. In how many days the work can be 16. Govinda, Syed and Janak can complete a piece of work
completed if A and B work together? in 20, 30 and 24 days respectively. All three of them started
A. 5 B. 2.4 C. 2 D. 2.5 working and after a certain number of days (y), Govinda
stopped working and Syed stopped working exactly (y) days
6. A can do a piece of work in 25 days and B do it in 20 days. before the work got completed. In how many integral
They work together for 5 days and then A quits. B completes numbers of days was the work completed?
A. 12 B. 16 C. 14 D. 20
 Time and Work

For first y days, all of them are working and hence work
completed
= y (1/20+1/30+1/24) =y/8 part of work
Problems on Pipe and Cistern: Next Syed and Janak worked for (x-2y) days and hence
17. Two pipes A and B can fill a tank in 24 min. and 32 min. completed= (1/30+1/24) =3/40 part.
respectively. If both the pipes are opened simultaneously, Lastly Janak alone worked for y days completing y/24 part of
after how much time pipe B should be closed so that the tank work.
is full in 18 minutes? Hence, y/8+(x-2y) 3/40+y/24 =1
A. 10 B. 12 C. 11 D. 8 ⟹15y + 9x – 18y + 5y = 120
⟹2y + 9x = 120
18. A large tanker can be filled by two pipes P and Q in 60 ⟹Now y < x and both x and y have to be integers.
minutes and 40 minutes respectively. How many minutes will ⟹So x = 12 and y = 6
it take to fill the tanker from an empty state, if Q is used for
Hence, the correct answer is option A
half the time and P and Q fill it together for the other half?
A. 15 min B. 20 min C. 27.5 min D. 30 min 17. Capacity =lcm(24,30)=96units
No. of min. Capacity Amount Working Total
19. P and Q are filling pipes which can fill a tank in 15 and taken to (lcm) filled Time amount
20 minutes respectively. R is an emptying pipe which can fill. /minute (mins) filled.
empty the full tank in 30 minutes. The three pipes are A 24 96 4 18 18*4=72
operated continuously one after the other in the order of P, Q B 32 96 3 96-72=2
and R, each being kept open for x minutes until the tank is 4
filled. If the tank is full after 322/3 minutes, then what is the So B works for 24/3=8 min. so after 8 min B should be
value of x? closed.
A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4 Hence the correct answer is option D.
20. A pipe is filling a tank of 300 liters capacity at 6 liters/hr. 18. Capacity=120 units.
Because of a leak it takes 40 hours more to fill the tank. Time(min) Work(capacity) Working Total amount
What is the rate (in liters/hr) at which water is leaking? Time filled.
A. 4 B. 3 C. 2.67 D. 2.33
P 60 120 t t*120/60=2t
Q 40 120 2t 2t*120/40=6t
Hence 6t+2t=120; t=15min and 2t=30min.
Hence the correct answer is option D.

19. In 1 minute P & Q can fill 1/15th and 1/20th part of the
tank while R can empty 1/30th part.
Each is opened for x minutes and order followed is P, Q and
Few Explanatory Answers: R.
A cycle will consist of 3x minutes and it will complete
14. (1/15+1/20-1/30) x=5x/60 part
Taking the answer option of x = 2,
Details Man woman child
In a cycle of 6 min, it will complete 10/ (60) part
Cost in Rs 480 540 720
In 5 cycles totaling 30 minutes, it will complete 50/60 part
Daily wages 40 30 20 and remaining will be 10/60 part
Daily needed 12 18 36 In the next 2 minutes, P will fill another 2/15th = 8/60th part
When they do the work together, their rate = 1/12+1/18+1/36 more and the remaining will be 2/60 part or 1/30th part.
=6/36 =1/6 work/day In the next 2/3 min, Q will fill the remaining 1/30th part.
Hence the total time taken = 30 + 2 + 2/3 = 322/3 minutes
Hence they will complete the job in 6 days. We can try out and see that this will work out only for x =2
Now their combined cost for a day = 40 + 30 + 20 = Rs. 90. Hence, the correct answer is option B
Total cost = 90 * 6 = Rs. 540.
Hence, the correct answer is option C. 20. Without the leak, the filling pipe takes 300/6 = 50 hours to
fill the tank.
15. Let the work done by each man and each woman per day In 40 hours, it can fill 240 litres of the tank. Because the filling
be ‘m’ units and ‘w’ units respectively. Given that 2m = 5w. pipe operated for 40 more hours, the tank would have filled
Total amount of work: 2m (27) = (4m + 5w) x, where ‘x’ is the by 240 more had there been no leak.
number of days they take to complete the work. So, because of the leak, 240 litres of water has been drained
Substituting 2m for 5w in the above equation, we get 54m = in 90 hours (since the leak was in operation for 90 hours).
6m(x) ↔ x = 9. Hence the rate (in litres/h) of leak = 240/90 = 2.67
Hence, the correct answer is option C Hence, the correct answer is option C
16. Let x be the number of days in which work gets done.
In one day Govind, Syed and Janak will complete 1/20th,
1/30th and 1/24th part of work respectively.
Time and Work