🧾 Time and Work 1
📘 Basic Concept
Time and Work is based on the concept of inverse proportionality between time and work done.
More people ⇒ less time required.
More time ⇒ more work can be done.
If a person can do a work in x days, the work done in one day = 1/x
📌 Key Formulas
1. Work Done = Time × Efficiency
2. Time = Work / Efficiency
3. Efficiency = 1 / Time Taken
4. If A can do a piece of work in x days, A's 1 day work = 1/x
5. If A is x times as efficient as B, then A will take 1/x of the time B takes
6. If A and B together can do a work in X days, and A alone can do it in Y days, then:
○ 1/X = 1/Y + 1/Z
📚 Types of Problems and Examples
🔹 Type 1: Find Time Taken When People Work Together
Given A and B (or more) do work individually
To Find Time taken together
✅ Problem 1:
A does a work in 10 days and B in 15 days. In how many days will they complete the work together?
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2
A’s 1-day work = 1/10
B’s 1-day work = 1/15
✅
Combined = 1/10 + 1/15 = (3 + 2)/30 = 5/30 = 1/6
Answer: 6 days
✅ Problem 2:
A = 10 hrs, B = 30 hrs, C = 60 hrs
How long to finish the work together?
✅
1-day work = 1/10 + 1/30 + 1/60 = (6 + 2 + 1)/60 = 9/60 = 3/20
Answer: 20/3 = 6 hours 40 minutes
🔹 Type 2: Find Time Taken by One Person (Given Combined Work)
Given A + B together and A (or B) alone
To Find Time taken by the other person
✅ Problem 1:
Man = 5 days, Man + Son = 3 days
Find how long your son takes alone.
✅
Man = 1/5, Together = 1/3 ⇒ Son = 1/3 – 1/5 = 2/15
Answer: 15/2 = 7.5 days
✅ Problem 2:
A + B = 6 days, B = 24 days
Find A's time alone.
✅
Together = 1/6, B = 1/24 ⇒ A = 1/6 – 1/24 = 3/24 = 1/8
Answer: 8 days
🔹 Type 3: Work on Alternate Days
Given A and B individual times
To Find Total time on alternate days
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✅ Problem 1: 3
A = 9 days, B = 12 days
They work on alternate days starting with A.
A = 1/9, B = 1/12
2-day work = (1/9 + 1/12) = (4 + 3)/36 = 7/36
In 5 pairs (10 days) = 35/36 done
✅
Remaining = 1/36 on day 11 by A = ✔
Answer: 11 days
✅ Problem 2:
A = 20 days, B = 30 days
Alternate days, A starts.
A = 1/20, B = 1/30
2-day work = (1/20 + 1/30) = 5/60 = 1/12
In 5 pairs = 10 days = 5/6 work
11th day, A works = 1/20
Total = 5/6 + 1/20 = 17/20
12th day, B = 1/30 ⇒ 17/20 + 1/30 = (51 + 2)/60 = 53/60
✅
Need extra on 13th day
Answer: ~13 days (use fractions to find exact time)
🔹 Type 4: Person Leaves Job Midway
Given A and B together, B leaves after few days
To Find Pending work and time to complete
✅ Problem 1:
A = 15 days, B = 10 days
Work together 2 days, then A continues.
A = 1/15, B = 1/10 ⇒ Together = 1/6
Work in 2 days = 2 × 1/6 = 1/3
Remaining = 2/3
✅
A = 1/15 ⇒ Time = (2/3)/(1/15) = 10 days
Answer: 10 days more
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4
✅ Problem 2:
A = 18 days, B = 15 days
Worked together 5 days, B left.
A = 1/18, B = 1/15
Combined = 11/90
Work in 5 days = 5 × 11/90 = 55/90 = 11/18
Remaining = 1 – 11/18 = 7/18
✅
A alone = 1/18 ⇒ Time = (7/18)/(1/18) = 7 days
Answer: 7 days to complete pending work
🧮 LCM Method
Use LCM of individual times to assume total work and simplify calculations using unit work.
📊 Summary Table
Worker Time Taken 1 Day Work Efficiency
A 10 days 1/10 10%
B 20 days 1/20 5%
A+B 6.67 days 1/6.67 15%
📝 Tips for Solving Quickly
● Always convert to 1-day work.
● Use LCM when combining multiple workers.
● Work on fraction math.
● Draw timelines for Type 3 and 4 problems.
● Practice word-to-math translation for speed.
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