Fraction of work method:

If A can do a work in 'a' days, then work done by him in 1 day is 1/a.
If B can do a work in 'b' days, then work done by him in 1 day is 1/b.
Then, in one day, if A and B work together, then work done by them in 1
day,
= (1/a + 1/b);
= (a+b)/ab.
In this case, we take the total work to be done as 1. Hence,
the work will be completed when 1 unit of work is
completed.
Example:
If A can do a work in 10 days and B can do same work in 12 days, then
the work will be completed in how many days.
Solution:
one day combined work of A and B,
=( 1/10+1/12)
(A+B) =[12+10]/120 [LCM of 10 and 12=120]
=22/120;
Then work will be completed in 120/22 days.
This is reciprocal of one day's work done by A and B
together.
Percentage of work done method:
Instead of taking the value of the total work as 1 unit of work, we can
take total work as 100% work.
If A can do a work in a days, then work done by him in 1 day is (100/a)%
of work.
If B can do a work in b days, then work done by him in 1 day is (100/b)%
of work.
Then, in one day, if A and B work together, then work done by them in 1
day is (100/a + 100/b)
This approach is very use full and time saving because thinking in terms
of percentage gives a direct and clear picture of the actual quantum of
work done.
Example:
If A can do a work in 10 days and B can do same work in 12 days, then
the work will be completed in how many days.
Solution:
One day work of A= 100/10= 10%
One day work of B=100/12=8.33%
One day work of (A+B)=10+8.33=18.33%
Hence, 100% work will require= 100/18.33
At this point, we can guess that answer lies between 5-6 days. If we go
through the options, then we can mark the closest answer.
They will complete 91.66 % in 5 days and rest 8.33% will be done in=
8.33/18.33=5/11.
That means 100% will be completed in 5(5/11) days.
Negative Work and Its Application:
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 by while it is broken by C.
here, we consider that A and B are doing positive work in building the
wall while C is doing a negative work as he is breaking the wall.

Example:
A can build a wall in 10 days and B can build it in 5 days, while C can
completely destroy the wall in 20 days. If they start working at the same
time, in how many days will the work be completed?
Solution:
A's one day work= 100/10= 10%
B's one day work=100/5=20%
C's one day work=100/20= 5%. [This work is taken as
negative].
The net combined work per day= (10+20-5)% =25%.
Hence work will completed in 100/25= 4 days.
Applications of negative work:
Pipe and Cisterns:-
The concept of negative work commonly appears as a problem based on
pipes and cisterns, where there are inlet pipes and outlet pipes or leaks
which working against each other.
If we consider the work to be filling a tank, the inlet pipe does positive
work while the outlet pipe or leak does negative work.
Example:
Two pipes A and B require 12 min. and 15 min. respectively to fill a tank
while; another pipe C requires 18 min. to empty it. In how many minute
will the tank be filled if all the three pipes are opened together?
Solution:
In 1 minute, A fills the tank= 100/12= 8.33%
In 1 minute, B fills the tank= 100/15= 6.66%
In 1 minute, C empties the tank= 100/18= 5.55%
Net combined work of all pipe per minute= (8.33+6.66-5.55)%=9.44%
Tank will be filled in= 10.5 minutes.
Efficiency and Its Application:
Work done per unit time is known as efficiency. It is also known as Work
Rate.
Efficiency = Work done/time ......... (i)
Hence, Work done = efficiency * time.
From equation (i) means that if the work done is constant,
Then, We can say,
Work rate is inversely proportional to time. That means,
if A has taken more time, then its efficiency or work rate
is less.
i) Work Equivalence:
The work equivalence is an application of the efficiency and formula,
Work rate * time= work done;
Example:
A contractor undertakes to build a wall in 50 days. He employs 50 people
for the same. However, after 25 days he finds that the work is only 40%
complete. How many more men need to be employed to:
a) Complete the work in time?
Solution:
The contractor has completed 40% work in 25 days.
If number of men working on the project remains constant, the rate of
work also remains constant. Hence, to complete 100% work, he will
have to complete the remaining 60% of the work.
He would require,
Work rate * time = work done
Time = work done / work rate
Time = 60*25/40
Time = 37.5 days.
That means he would require 37.5 more days to complete the work.
In order to complete work in time he has to complete the 60% work in 25
days. It is oblivious that he will have to increase the number of men
working on the project. It can solve as
50 men working for 25 days 50*25=1250 men-days.
1250 men-days resulted 40% work completion. Hence,
Work left=60%=1250*1.5=1875 men-days.
This has to complete in 25 days. Hence, number

If A and B together can complete a piece of work in 15

days and B alone in 20 days, in how many days can A
alone complete the work?
A. 60
B. 45
C. 40
D. 30
Answer: Option A
Solution(By Examveda Team)

1st method: A and B complete a work in = 15 days;

One day's work of (A+B) = 1/15;
B complete the work in = 20 days;
One day's work of B = 1/20;
Then, A's one day's work = 1/15-1/20 = (4-3)/60 = 1/60;
Thus, A can complete the work in = 60 days.

2nd method: (A+B)'s one day's % work = 100/15 = 6.66%

B's one day's % work = 100/20 = 5%
A's one day's % work = 6.66-5 = 1.66%
Thus, A need = 100/1.66 = 60 days to complete the work.

A complete 7/10 of a work in 15 days, then he completed

the remaining work with the help of B in 4 days. In how
many day A and B can complete entire work together?
A. 10(1/2) days
B. 12(2/3) days
C. 13(1/3) days
D. 8(1/4) days
Answer: Option C
Solution(By Examveda Team)

7/10 part of work has been completed by A in 15 days. Then,

Rest work = 1-(7/10) = 3/10 part.
Given, That 3/10 part of the work is completed by A and B together in 4
days. Means,
(A+B) completed the 3/10 of work in 4 days.
So, (A+B)'s 1 day's work = 3/(10*4) = 3/40;
Hence,
(A+B) can complete the work in 40/3 = 13(1/3) days.

Working together B and C take 50% more number of days

than A, B and C together take and A and B working
together, take 8/3 more number of days than A, B and C
take together. If A, B and C all have worked together till
the completion of the work and B has received Rs. 120
out of total earnings of Rs, 450, then in how many days
did A, B and C together complete the whole work?
A. 2
B. 4
C. 6
D. 8
E. 10
Answer: Option D
Solution(By Examveda Team)

Ratio of efficiencies of A, B and C,

= 5x :4x :6x
Number of days required by A and B = 100/9x ------ (1)
Number of days required by A, B and C = 100/15x ------ (2)
(100/9x) - (100/15x) = 8/3
==> x = 5/3
Number of days required by A, B and C = 100/15x = 100/(15 * 5/3) = 4
days.

Working together B and C take 50% more number of days

than A, B and C together take and A and B working
together, take 8/3 more number of days than A, B and C
take together. If A, B and C all have worked together till
the completion of the work and B has received Rs. 120
out of total earnings of Rs, 450, then in how many days
did A, B and C together complete the whole work?
A. 2
B. 4
C. 6
D. 8
E. 10
Answer: Option D
Solution(By Examveda Team)

Ratio of efficiencies of A, B and C,

= 5x :4x :6x
Number of days required by A and B = 100/9x ------ (1)
Number of days required by A, B and C = 100/15x ------ (2)
(100/9x) - (100/15x) = 8/3
==> x = 5/3
Number of days required by A, B and C = 100/15x = 100/(15 * 5/3) = 4
days.

If A and B together can complete a work in 18 days, A and

C together in 12 days, and B and C together in 9 days,
then B alone can do the work in:
A. 18 days
B. 24 days
C. 30 days
D. 40 days
Answer: Option B
Solution(By Examveda Team)

Fraction Method:
A and B can complete a work in 18 days.
One Day's Work of
(A + B) = 1/18 ------- (i)
One Day's work of
(A + C) = 1/12 ------- (ii)
One Day's work of,
(B + C) = 1/9 ------- (iii)
Adding (i), (ii) and (iii),
2*(A + B + C) = {(1/18) + (1/12) + (1/9)} = 1/4
One day's work of
(A + B + C) = 1/8
B = (1/8) (A + C)
B = (1/8) (1/12) [ A + C = 1/12]
One Day's Work of,
B = (3 - 2)/24 = 1/24.
B need 24 days.
Percentage Method:
One day's % work of
(A+B) = 100/18 = 5.55% ----(i)
A+C = 100/12 = 8.3% -----(ii)
B+C = 100/9 = 11.11% ---- (iii)
Adding (i), (ii) and (iii),
2 * (A +B +C) =
To complete a piece of work A and B take 8 days, B and C
12 days. A, B and C take 6 days. A and C will take :
A. 7 Days
B. 7.5 Days
C. 8 Days
D. 8.5 Days
Answer: Option C
Solution(By Examveda Team)

Given (A+B)'s one day's work = 1/8

(B+C)'s one day's work = 1/12
(A+B+C) 's 1 day's work = 1/6

Work done by A, alone= (A+B+C) 's 1 day's work - (B+C)'s one day's
work
=(1/6) (1/12) = (21)/12=1/12
Work done by C, alone = (A+B+C) 's 1 day's work - (A+B)'s one days
work
=(1/6)(1/8) = (43)/24 = 1/24
=> (A+C)s one days work = (1/12) +(1/24) = (2+1)/24 = 3/24 = 1/8
=> (A+C) will take 8 days to complete the work together.

While working 7 hour a day, A alone can complete a piece

of work in 6 days and B alone in 8 days. In what time
would they complete it together, 8 hour a day?
A. 3 days
B. 4 days
C. 2.1 days
D. 3.6 days
Answer: Option A
Solution(By Examveda Team)
A can complete the work in 7*6 = 42 hours;
1 hour's work of A = 1/42;
B can complete the work in 7*8 = 56 hours;
1 hour's work of B = 1/56;
(A+B)'s 1 hour's work = 1/42+1/56 = 98/42*56;
(A+B) will take time to complete whole work,
working 7 hours a day = 42*56/98 = 24 hours;
Let X be the no. of days taken, working 8 hours a day to complete the
work by A and B together.
Now, using work equivalence method ;
24 = 8*X;
X = 24/8 = 3 days.
Two pipes can fill the cistern in 10hr and 12 hr
respectively, while the third empty it in 20hr. If all pipes
are opened simultaneously, then the cistern will be filled
in:
A. 7.5 hr
B. 8 hr
C. 8.5 hr
D. 10 hr
Answer: Option A
Solution(By Examveda Team)

Work done by all the tanks working together in 1 hour,

=> (1/10) + (1/12) (1/20) = 2/15.
Hence, tank will be filled in 15/2 = 7.5 hour.
Ram Lal is a renowned packager of fruits in Varanasi. He
packs 70 mangoes or 56 guavas every day working 7
hours a day. His wife also helps him. She packs 30
mangoes or 24 guavas working 6 hours per day. Ram Lal
has to pack 3300 mangoes and 2400 guavas with help of
his wife. They works alternately, each day 10 hours. His
wife started packaging firs day and works every alternate
days. Similarly, Ram Lal started his work second day and
and worked alternatively till the completion of the work.
In how many days the work will finished?
A. 85(3/2)
B. 85
C. 84
D. 80
E. None of these
Answer: Option C
Solution(By Examveda Team)

Mango Packing rate of Ram Lal = 70 /7 = 10 per hour

Guavas Packing rate of Ram Lal = 56 /7 = 8 per hour.
Mango Packing rate of Ram Lal's Wife = 30 /6 = 5 per hour
Guavas Packing rate of Ram Lal's Wife = 24 /6 = 4 per hour.

On comparing,
8 Guavas = 10 Mangoes
1 Guavas = 10 /8 Mangoes
2400 Guavas = (10 *2400) /8 = 3000 Mangoes.
This means that they need to pack (6300 +3000) Mangoes.

Combined Mango Packing rate of Both = 10+5 = 15 per hour.

We will take 2 days = 1 time unit.

Working 10 hours a day they will pack 150 Mangoes in 1 time unit.
Total time taken to pack 6300 Mangoes = 6300 /150 = 42 time unit.
So, total time taken = 2*42 = 84 days.
Three taps A, B and C together can fill an empty cistern in
10 minutes. The tap A alone can fill it in 30 minutes and
the tap B alone in 40 minutes. How long will the tap C
alone take to fill it?
A. 16 minutes
B. 24 minutes
C. 32 minutes
D. 40 minutes
Answer: Option B
Solution(By Examveda Team)

A, B and C together can fill 100% empty tank in 10 minutes.

Work rate of (A + B + C) = 100/10 = 10% per minute.
A alone can fill the tank in 30 minutes.
Work rate of A = 100/30 = 3.33% per minute.
B alone can fill the tank in 40 minutes.
Work rate of B = 100/40 = 2.5%.
Work rate of (A +B) = 3.33 + 2.5 = 5.83% per minute.
Work rate of C,
= Work rate of (A +B +c) - (A +B).
= 10 - 5.83 = 4.17% per minute.
So, C takes = 100/4.17 = 24 minutes to fill the tank.
X takes 4 days to complete one-third of a job. Y takes 3
days to complete one-sixth of the job and Z takes 5 days
to complete half the job. If all of them work together for 3
days and X and Z quit, how long will it take for Y to
complete the remaining work done.
A. 6 days
B. 8.1 days
C. 5.1 days
D. 7 days
E. None of these
Answer: Option C
Solution(By Examveda Team)

X completes 1/3 in 4 days = 33.33 % job in 4 days.

rd

X One day work = 8.33%

Y one day work = 5.55% [As he complete 1/6 job = 16.66 % job in
3 days]
Z one day work = 10%
Work done in 3 days by X, Y and Z
= 25 + 16.66 + 30 = 71.66 %
Remaining work will be done by Y in,
28.33/5.55 = 5.1 days.
Two pipes, P and Q can fill a cistern in 12 and 15 minutes
respectively. Both are opened together, but at the end of
3 minutes, P is turned off. In how many more minutes will
q fill the cistern?
A. 7
B. 7(1/2)
C. 8
D. 8(1/4)
Answer: Option D
Solution(By Examveda Team)

P can fill cistern in 12 minutes.

P fills cistern in 1 minute = 1/12
Q can fill cistern in 15 minutes.
Q fills cistern in 1 minute = 1/15 part.
P and Q together can fill cistern in 1 minute,
= {(1/12) + (1/15)} = 9/60 part.
So, they can together fill cistern in 3 minute,
= 3 * (9/60) = 9/20 part.
Rest Cistern = 1 - (9/20) = 11/20 part.
11/20 part cistern must be filled by Q in,
[(11/20)/(1/15)] = 8(1/4) minutes.

Alternatively,

Pipe P can fill cistern in one minute = 100/12 = 8.33%

Pipe Q can fill cistern in one minute = 100/15 = 6.66%
(P+Q) together can fill the cistern in one minute = 15%;
In 3 minutes cistern is filled = 45%
P become off, then rest of cistern will be filled by Pipe Q in = 55/6.66 =
8(1/4) minutes.
To complete a piece of work A and B take 8 days, B and C
12 days. A, B and C take 6 days. A and C will take :
A. 7 Days
B. 7.5 Days
C. 8 Days
D. 8.5 Days
Answer: Option C
Solution(By Examveda Team)

Given (A+B)'s one day's work = 1/8

(B+C)'s one day's work = 1/12
(A+B+C) 's 1 day's work = 1/6

Work done by A, alone= (A+B+C) 's 1 day's work - (B+C)'s one day's
work
=(1/6) (1/12) = (21)/12=1/12
Work done by C, alone = (A+B+C) 's 1 day's work - (A+B)'s one days
work
=(1/6)(1/8) = (43)/24 = 1/24
=> (A+C)s one days work = (1/12) +(1/24) = (2+1)/24 = 3/24 = 1/8
=> (A+C) will take 8 days to complete the work together.
If 10 men or 20 boys can make 260 mats in 20 days, then
how many mats will be made by 8 men and 4 boys in 20
days?
A. 260
B. 240
C. 280
D. 520
Answer: Option A
Solution(By Examveda Team)

10 men = 20 boys;
1 men = 2 boys;
8 men = 2*8 boys = 16 boys.
Then,
(16 boys + 4 boys) = 20 boys can make 260 mats in 20 days.
Now,
It can be calculated by work equivalence method:
20*260*20 = x*20*20;
x = 260 mats.
Two forest officials in their respective division were
involved in the harvesting of tendu leave. One division
had an average output of 21 tons from a hectares and
other division, which had 12 hectares of land less,
dedicated to tendu leaves, got 25 tons of tendu from a
hectare. As a result, the second division harvested 300
tons of tendu leaves more than the first. How many tons
of tendu leaves did the first division harvest.
A. 3150
B. 3450
C. 3500
D. 3600
E. None of these
Answer: Option A
Solution(By Examveda Team)

Let First division have x hectare of the land then second division will
have (x - 12) hectare of land.
Now according to the question,
25 *(x - 12) = 21x + 300
or, x = 150 hectare.
Hence, the first division harvest 3150 tons tendu leaves.
Two men and women are entrusted with a task. The
second man needs three hours more to cope up with the
job than the second man and the woman would need
working together. The first man, working alone, would
need as much time as second man and the woman
working together. The first man working alone, would
spend eight hours less than the double period of the time
second man would spend working alone. How much time
would the two men and the women need to complete the
task if they all asked together?
A. 1 hour
B. 2 hours
C. 3 hours
D. 4 hours
E. 5 hours
Answer: Option A
Solution(By Examveda Team)

Difference in times required by the first man (A) and second man (B) =
3 hours. Also, if t and t are the respective times, then
a b

t - t = 3 . . . . . . . . . ..(1)
b a

Also, B alone be take = (t + 3) h

a

According to the question,

2t - t = 8
b a

2* (t + 3) - t = 8 [Using equation (1)]

a a

t = 2 hours.
a

Now B and woman together take 2 hours and A also take 2 hours, so
time required will be half when all 3 work together. So in 1 hour work
would be completed.
Vimal can do a piece of work in 20 days, Vimal and Kamal
together can do in 12 days. If Kamal does the work only
for half a day daily then in how many days the work will
be completed ?
A. 14
B. 17
C. 12
D. 15
Answer: Option D
Solution(By Examveda Team)

Vimal's 1 day work = 1/20.

Since, Vimal and Kamal can together complete in 12 days.
i.e. (Vimal + Kamal)'s 1 day work = 1/12
Then,
Kamal's 1 day work,
= 1/12 - 1/20 = 2/60 = 1/30
If Kamal Works only for half a day daily, then his 1 day work becomes
(1/2)(1/30) = 1/60
Therefore, 1 day work of both Vimal and Kamal,
= 1/20 + 1/60 = 4/60 = 1/15
Hence, the work will be completed in 15 days.
If 3 men or 4 women can plough a field in 43 days, how
long will 7 men and 5 women take to plough it?
A. 10 days
B. 11 days
C. 9 days
D. 12 days
Answer: Option D
Solution(By Examveda Team)

3 men or 4 women can plough the field in 43 days.

3 men = 4 women.
1 man = 4/3 women.
7 man = 28/3 women.
7 men and 5 women = 5 + (28/3) = 43/3 women.
4 women can plough field in 43 days.
So,
1 women can plough in = 43 *4 days.
Hence,
43/3 women can plough = (43*4 *3) /43 = 12 days.
A group of 12 men can do a piece of work in 14 days and
other group of 12 women can do the same work in 21
days. They begin together but 3 days before the
completion of work, man's group leaves off. The total
number of days to complete the work is:
A. 65/4
B. 93/3
C. 51/5
D. 60
Answer: Option C
Solution(By Examveda Team)
Let x be the required number of days.
Given,
12 men and 12 women can complete a work separately in 14 days and
21 days respectively.
Then,
12 man's 1 day work = 1/14
And,
12 women's 1 day work = 1/21
Then ,
12 women's 3 days work = 3/21 = 1/7

The remaining work = 1 - 1/7 = 6/7

Man's group leaves 3 days before the completion of work.
That is, they were working together for x-3 days.
Thus, we have 1/7 work left to be done in last 3 days by the women's
group. This also means 6/7 th of work has been done by both the
groups (before men left).
Now, (12 men + 12 women)'s 1 day work = 1/14 + 1/21 = 5/42.
i.e., 5/42 work is done by 2 groups in 1 day.
So, 6/7 of work is done by 2 groups together in (42/5)(6/7) = 36/5 days.
As we know, women's group will work to
A group of workers was put on a job. From second day
onwards, one worker was withdrawn each day. The job
was finished when the last worker was withdrawn. Had no
worker been withdrawn at any stage, the group would
have finished the job in 55% of the time. How many
workers were there in the group?
A. 15
B. 14
C. 12
D. 10
E. 8
Answer: Option D
Solution(By Examveda Team)

Let initially X number of workers be there.

Now, Using work equivalence method,
X + (X-1) + (X-2)+ . . . . + 1 = X *55% of X
[X*(X+1)]/2 = 55 /100
X

[series is in AP. Sum of AP = {No. of terms (first term+ last

term)/2}/]
X = 10 workers.
A cistern can be filled by two pipes in 20 and 30 minutes
respectively. Both pipes being opened, when the first
pipe must be turned off so that the cistern may be filled in
10 minutes more.
A. after 10 minutes
B. after 12 minutes
C. after 20 minutes
D. after 8minutes
Answer: Option D
Solution(By Examveda Team)

% Cistern is filled by 1 pipe in one minute = 100/20 = 5%;

st

% Cistern is filled by 2 pipe in one minute = 100/30 = 3.33%;

nd

% cistern filled by 1 and 2 pipes in one minute = 8.33%;

st nd

According to question,
Cistern is totally filled by 2 pipe in last 10 minute.
nd

That means 2 pipe filled 33.3% of the cistern in last 10 minute and
nd

66.66% of cistern is filled by 1 and 2 pipe together in = 66.66/8.33 =

st nd

8 minutes;
Thus, after 8 minute, 1 pipe must be turned off.
st

X takes 4 days to complete one-third of a job. Y takes 3

days to complete one-sixth of the job and Z takes 5 days
to complete half the job. If all of them work together for 3
days and X and Z quit, how long will it take for Y to
complete the remaining work done.
A. 6 days
B. 8.1 days
C. 5.1 days
D. 7 days
E. None of these
Answer: Option C
Solution(By Examveda Team)

X completes 1/3 in 4 days = 33.33 % job in 4 days.

rd

X One day work = 8.33%

Y one day work = 5.55% [As he complete 1/6 job = 16.66 % job in
3 days]
Z one day work = 10%
Work done in 3 days by X, Y and Z
= 25 + 16.66 + 30 = 71.66 %
Remaining work will be done by Y in,
28.33/5.55 = 5.1 days.
If 3 men or 4 women can plough a field in 43 days, how
long will 7 men and 5 women take to plough it?
A. 10 days
B. 11 days
C. 9 days
D. 12 days
Answer: Option D
Solution(By Examveda Team)

3 men or 4 women can plough the field in 43 days.

3 men = 4 women.
1 man = 4/3 women.
7 man = 28/3 women.
7 men and 5 women = 5 + (28/3) = 43/3 women.
4 women can plough field in 43 days.
So,
1 women can plough in = 43 *4 days.
Hence,
43/3 women can plough = (43*4 *3) /43 = 12 days.

If 2 men or 5 women or 4 boys can do a piece of work in

52 days, then the same piece of work will be done by 1
man, 1 woman and 1 boy in:
A. 48 days
B. 36 days
C. 45 days
D. 50 days
Answer: Option A
Solution(By Examveda Team)

Work done by 2 men = 3 women = 4 boys

1 man = 2 boys.
1 woman = 4/3 boys
Thus,
Boys*days = 4*52 boys-days
Again,
1 man + 1 woman + 1 boys,
= 2 + (4/3) + 1
= 13/3 boys
Using work equivalent method,
boys*day = BOYS*DAYS
4*52 = (13/3)*x (let)
x = 48 days.
If m men can do a work in r days, then the number of
days taken by (m +n) men to do it is :
A. (m +n) /mn
B. (m +n) /mr
C. mr /(m +n)
D. r(m +n) /mn
Answer: Option C
Solution(By Examveda Team)

M *D = M *D
1 1 2 2

mr = (m +n) *D 2

D = mr /(m +n).
2