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Quantitative Aptitude Notes on Time & Work (Part II)
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: September 25th, 2023
We have already posted the article related to the basic concepts of Time and Work Part I. This post is in continuation with it. Here we will help you understand the use of Work Constant approach.
While attempting questions, you must remember some important points –
1. Read questions carefully.
2. Words like together, alone, before complete, after complete etc. are important.
3. Data provided in the question should be read carefully.
We have already posted the article related to the basic concepts of Time and Work Part I. This post is in continuation with it. Here we will help you understand the use of Work Constant approach.
While attempting questions, you must remember some important points –
1. Read questions carefully.
2. Words like together, alone, before complete, after complete etc. are important.
3. Data provided in the question should be read carefully.
How to approach and express data while taking the exam?
If there are two persons A and B. If A begins and both work alternate days.It means
1st day |
2nd day |
3rd day |
4th day |
5thday |
6thday |
7thday |
8thday |
9thday |
10thday |
….. |
A |
B |
A |
B |
A |
B |
A |
B |
A |
B |
….. |
Before going forward, we will discuss some basics of Ratios to make calculation easy for this topic and these basics will also help you in other topics like Partnership, time and distance, average, allegation etc.
TIME AND WORK EXAMPLES:
Example 5: A and B can do a work in 8 days and 12 days respectively.
A B
Time (T) 8 days 12 days
Efficiency (η) 12 8
η 3 2
total work = TA× ηA = TB× ηB
total work = 8 × 3 = 12 × 2
total work = 24 units
(a). If both A and B work alternatively and A begins, then in how many days work will be completed?
According to question A begins and both and b work alternately.
Days |
1st day |
2nd day |
3rd day |
4th day |
5th day |
6th day |
7th day |
8th day |
9th day |
10th /2 day |
Total Work |
Person |
A |
B |
A |
B |
A |
B |
A |
B |
A |
B |
|
Work Unit |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
24 |
Hence work will be completed in 9 (1/2) days.
But this type of approach is not helpful in exams. We will go by basic but in a smarter way.
If we make a pair of A and B, we can say that both together will work 5 units but in 2 days.
2 days = 5 unit of work
2 days × 4 = 5 units of work × 4
8 Days = 20 units of work, i.e. we can say that up to 8th day 20 units of work will be done
But on 9th day it’s a chance of A and he will do his 3 units of work. So up to 9th day 23 units of work will be done. Now 1 unit of work will remain. On 10th day it’s a chance of B.
As above B do 2 unit of work in a day. So, he will do 1 unit of work in (1/2) days.
So total time taken to complete the work is 9 (1/2) days.
(b). If A and B both work for 4 days then A leaves. In how many days total work will be completed.
(EffA+B× tA+B )+( Eff.B × tB) = total work
(5 × 4)+(2 × tB) = 24
20 + 2 × tB = 24
2 × tB = 4
tB = 2 days , hence total time will be ( 4+2 )days i.e. 6 days.
Important: Same question can be framed in many ways.
Way 1 : B works for 2 days and after that A joins B, then in how many days the work will be completed.
Solution: B works only for 2 days and then A joins B, i.e. both will work together after 2 days.
(tB × ηB) + (tA+B× ηA+B) = total work
(2 × 2) + (tA+B × 5) = 24
(tA+B × 5) = 20
tA+B = 4 days hence total time is (2+4) days i.e. 6 days
Way 2 : A and B both work together and A takes leaves for 2 days, then in how many days the work will be completed.
Solution: When both A and B are working together and A takes leaves for two days it means B has to work alone for 2 days .
Let total time to complete the work is t days.
So, ηA+B × (t-2) + ηB × 2 days = 24
5 × (t-2) + 2 × 2 = 24
t-2 = 4
t = 6 days Hence total time taken to complete the work is 6 days.
Don’t confuse between tA+B and TA+B (as mentioned in article1). Both are different.
Example 6: X can do a work in 6 days, Y can do it in 8 days and Z can do it in 12 days.
(a). If X starts the work and X,Y,Z works in alternate days ,then in how many days the work will be completed?
Solution: Here X will start work on 1st day, then Y will work on 2nd day and z will work on 3rd day.
X : Y : Z
Time 6 : 8 : 12
Efficiency 12 × 8: 6 × 12 : 8 × 6
η 96 : 72 : 48
η 4 : 3 : 2
total work = ηX× TX= ηY×TY =ηZ×TZ
total work = 6 × 4 = 8 × 3 = 12 × 2 = 24 units
On 1st day, work done by X = 4 unit
On 2nd day, work done by Y = 3 unit
On 3rd day, work done by Z = 2 unit
Total work in 3 days done by X,Y and Z = 9 unit
Now again X will come then Y,then Z and so on till work is completed.
In 3 days = 9 units
× 2 × 2
In 6 days = 18 units
X will work on 7th day = 4 units
= 22 units
Now we need (24-22) units = 2 units work more but Y can do 3 unit of work in one day. So 2 unit will be done in (2/3) day.
+(2/3) day + 2 unit
Total days=7 (2/3) days 24 units
Hence total work will be done in 7 (2/3) days.
(b). If all started together and after completion of (3/4)th work, Y left and remaining work is done by X and Z together. Then in how many days work will be completed?
Solution: Total work is 24 units then (3/4)th work is 18 units.
One day work of (X+Y+Z) = 9 units so in 2 days 18 units of work will be done by (X+Y+Z) together.
After this Y left, X+Z worked together and 6 units of work remained.
One day work of X+Z = (4+2) units = 6 units. So in 3 days total work will be completed.
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