Cheat Sheets - Time and Work

If A can complete his work in n days, then his one day’s work = 1/n, therefore
A can finish the task in n days
Percentage efficiency = 1/n x100
Example: A can complete a task in 10 days and B can complete the same task in 15 days. If
they work together, then in how many days the total task will be completed?
Solution:
A‘s 1 day work =1/10
B‘s 1 day work = 1/15
Therefore, (A+B)’s 1 day work = 1/10+1/15 = 3+2/30
= 5/30
= 1/6
Time taken by both to finish the task = 6 days

LCM Approach:

A --- 10 3

30 (LCM = Total unit of work)

B --- 15 2

A and B can do 3 and 2 unit per day, respectively

(A+B)’S 1 day task = 5 units
Time taken by both to finish the task = Total work / Per day work
= 30 / 5
= 6 days

Relationship between Efficiency and Time:

Efficiency is inversely proportional to the time.

For example- A is twice as efficient as B, it means, A takes half the time to finish the same
task as B requires.
The ratio of work done by A and B = 2:1
The ratio of time taken by A and B = 1:2

Formula from product consistency

(M1D1T1E1)/W1 = (M2D2T2E2)/W2
Where,
M1, M2 = Number of workers
D1, D2 = Number of days
T1, T2 = Number of hours or minutes
E1, E2 = Efficiency
W1, W2 = Work done
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Cheat Sheets - Time and Work

Pipes and Cisterns

Inlet Pipe: A pipe connected with a tank or a cistern etc.

Outlet Pipe: A pipe connected with a tank or cistern etc., emptying it.
● If a pipe can fill a tank in n hours, then part of the tank filled in 1 hr =1/n
● If a pipe can empty a tank in m hours, then part of the tank filled in 1 hr =1/m
● If a pipe can fill a tank in n hours and another pipe can empty the full tank in m hours
(where m >n), then the net part filled in 1 hour = 1/n -1/m
Therefore, when both the pipes are open, the time taken to empty the full tank is
given by;
= (nm/m-n) Hours
● If a pipe can fill a tank in n hours and another pipe can empty the full tank in m hours
(where n>m), then the net part emptied in 1 hour = 1/m-1/n
Therefore, the time taken to fill the whole tank is given by;
= (mn/n+m) Hours

PRACTICE EXERCISE

1. Anaya and Shardul can paint a wall in 15 and 45 days, respectively. If they paint the wall
on alternate days, starting with Shardul, then the whole wall will be painted in how many
days?
A. 21 days
B. 23 days
C. 25 days
D. 27 days

2. Q and W together complete a book in 12 days. E and W complete the book in 15 days. If
they all work together, they can complete the book in 10 days. Then in how many days W
can finish the book working all alone.
A. 10 days
B. 20 days
C. 30 days
D. 40 days

3. Radhika can finish 2/3 of the assignment in 14 days and her friend can finish 1/6 of the
assignment in 7 days. If they decided to complete the assignment together, then in how
many days will the assignment be finished?
A. 10 days
B. 12 days
C. 13 days
D. 14 days

4. Pipes P and Q can fill a tank in 7 and 8 hours, respectively. Pipe R can empty it in 14 hours.
If all the three pipes are opened together, then the tank will be filled in:
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Cheat Sheets - Time and Work

A. 5 (1/11) hours
B. 6 (1/11) hours
C. 5 (2/11) hours
D. 6 (2/11) hours

5. If 21 workers can complete a task in 10 days, then calculate the number of workers
required to complete the same task in 35 days.
A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8

SOLUTIONS:

1. Option B
Anaya – 15 3
45(LCM = TOTAL UNIT OF WORK)
Shardul – 45 1
Therefore,
Anaya completes 3unit/day and Shardul completes 1 unit/day.
If they work on alternate day’s basis, starting with Shardul then,
Day 1 Day 2
1 3
So, 2 days = 4 units completed
22 days = 44 units
23 day = 45 units
Therefore, in 23 days the whole wall will be painted.

2. Option B

Q+W ---- 12 5

E+W ---- 15 60
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E+Q+W ---10 6
Per day unit:
Q+W = 5 units ------ (i)
E+W = 4 units ------- (ii)
E+Q+W = 6 units ----- (iii)
Equating the above equations, per day unit are:
Q=2
W= 3
E = 1
Therefore, W can finish the book in,
Time = work done/per day task
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Cheat Sheets - Time and Work

= 60/3
= 20 days

3. Option D
Radhika finish 2/3 of the assignment = 14 days
Therefore, Radhika can finish the whole assignment = (14 x3)/2 = 21 days
Her friend can finish 1/6 of the assignment = 7 days
Therefore, friend can finish the whole assignment = (7 x 6) = 42 days
Radhika --- 21 2
42
Friend ---- 42 1

If they work together,

(Radhika + Friend )’s 1 day task = 3 unit
Time taken to complete the assignment together = Total work/ per day task
= 42/3
= 14 days

4. Option A

P— 7 8

Q— 8 7 56

R— 14 -4

Therefore,
P completes 8 units of task /hour
Q completes 7 units of task/hour
R completes -4 units of task/hour
When all pipes are opened together (P+Q+R) 1 day task = 8+7 – 4 = 11unit/day
Time taken to fill the tank = total unit / per day task
= 56 /11
= 5 (1/11) hours

5. Option B
Since work is constant
M1 X D1 = M2 X D2 = work done
25 x 10 = M2 X 35
M2 = 6
Therefore, 6 workers are required.

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Cheat Sheets - Time and Work

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