Quantitative Aptitude
Time and Work: Work and Efficiency Concepts
Concept Formula / Explanation Example / Note
Work Work = Time × Efficiency If A does 5 units/day for 6 days,
Work = 5 × 6 = 30 units
Efficiency Efficiency = Work / Time If work is 60 units and A takes 10
days, Efficiency = 6 units/day
Time Time = Work / Efficiency If work = 48 units, efficiency = 6
units/day, Time = 8 days
Total Work Total Work = LCM of individual times If A takes 6 days, B takes 8 days,
Total Work = LCM(6,8) = 24 units
Combined Efficiency A’s Eff + B’s Eff = Total Eff If A = 4 units/day, B = 6 units/day,
together = 10 units/day
Efficiency Ratio (based Efficiency ∝ 1/Time ⇒ E₁ : E₂ = T₂ : T₁ If A takes 5 days, B takes 10 days
on time) ⇒ E₁ : E₂ = 10:5 = 2:1
Work Ratio (based on Work done ∝ Efficiency × Time Use to split wages/amounts based
efficiency) on contribution
Men, Days, Work M₁ × D₁ = M₂ × D₂ (when work is same) Used when number of men and
days change
One day's work 1 day's work = 1 / total days If A finishes in 10 days, 1 day work
= 1/10
Total work from 1 day’s Total Work = 1 day’s work × Total Days Reverse of above
work
A is ‘x%’ more efficient Let B’s eff = 100, then A = 100+x ⇒ Ratio = If A is 25% more efficient ⇒ Ratio
than B A:B = (100+x):100 = 125:100 = 5:4
A is ‘x%’ less efficient A = 100−x ⇒ Ratio = A:B = (100−x):100 If A is 20% less ⇒ Ratio = 80:100 =
than B 4:5
Alternate Work Days Use unit method or LCM, consider number Alternate day working is solved
of days each person works step-wise
Pipe & Cistern as Leakage = negative efficiency If pipe fills 10 units/day and leak
Negative Work empties 2, net = 8 units/day
Work Sharing Based on Share ∝ Efficiency × Time worked For unequal working durations
Efficiency
Inversely Proportional Time ∝ 1 / Efficiency Time taken is inversely
Time proportional to speed or efficiency
Time and Work – Concepts, Formulas & Shortcuts
Concept / Topic Details / Explanation Formula / Key Point
1. Basic Work Formula Work is directly proportional to time and Work = Time × Efficiency
efficiency.
2. Unit Work Method Total work is considered as 1 unit (or LCM of Use unitary method: If A completes in 10
days if needed). days, A's 1 day work = 1/10
3. Time Taken to Complete Work If A can do a piece of work in ‘x’ days. Work done/day = 1/x ⇒ Total Time = 1 ÷
Work done/day
4. Combined Work If A can do a work in x days and B in y days. (A + B)'s 1 day work = 1/x + 1/y
Time = xy / (x + y)
5. Efficiency and Time Relation More efficiency means less time. Efficiency ∝ 1 / Time
6. Ratio of Work and Time Compare work done by different people. Time₁ / Time₂ = Efficiency₂ / Efficiency₁
7. Work Done in ‘n’ Days If A's 1 day work is 1/x, work done in n days = Total Work Done = Days × Efficiency
n/x
8. Remaining Work Total work - work done = Remaining work Can use unit work method or LCM
9. A leaves the work after n days Handle work in parts: work done with A + rest Break the problem into phases
by others
10. Men, Women, and Children Use efficiency ratio (e.g., M:W:C = 4:3:2) Convert all to a single unit for comparison
11. LCM Method Take LCM of individual days to assume total Makes calculation easier
work
13. Work and Wages Wages ∝ Work Done (not time) Total Wages × (Person's Work / Total
Work)
14. Unequal Working Days If people work different days, calculate work Assign wages in ratio of work done
(Wages) individually
15. Alternate Working Days A & B work alternately (e.g., A-B-A...) Count days and multiply by individual 1
day work
16. Negative Work (Leaking Pipes / If B undoes A’s work, subtract Net work = A's work – B's work
Spoilers)
17. Work Completion % To find part of work completed or left Work done = (No. of days × 1 day work)
Work and Wages Specific Concepts
Case Explanation Formula / Example
Equal Wages All do equal work Divide equally
Unequal Efficiency More efficient person gets more wage Wages ∝ Work Done
Different Time Periods Different days of work Wages ∝ (Days × Efficiency)
Ratio-Based Wages If A:B:C work ratio = 2:3:5 Divide total wages in 2:3:5
Wages with Partial Work If total work = 60 units A’s Wage = (20/60) × Total Wage
A: 20 units, B: 40 units
Time and Work – (Man-Day Based)
[Link]. Concept Explanation / Formula Example / Note
1. Work and Time Relationship More men → less time; More time → more Work ∝ Men × Days
work
2. Basic Formula Work = Men × Days × Hours (if hourly rate If 5 men do a work in 4 days, total
given) work = 5×4 = 20 man-days
3. Combined Work Rate A’s 1-day work + B’s 1-day work = (A + B)’s 1- If A = 1/10, B = 1/15, together =
day work 1/10 + 1/15 = 1/6
4. Total Work in Units If A completes in x days, then total work = x Used to avoid fractions
units
5. Work Efficiency Ratio If A : B = efficiency ratio, then Time ratio = 1 : If A is twice as efficient as B →
efficiency Time ratio = 1 : 2
6. More Men, Less Time M₁×D₁ = M₂×D₂ (if work constant) Men × Days = Constant
7. A and B together, but A leaves after Use A + B’s rate × days + B’s rate × remaining Useful for replacement problems
some days days
8. Inversely Proportional Rule Work is constant → Men and Days are M₁ : M₂ = D₂ : D₁
inversely proportional
9. Negative Work (Leakage, Net work = Work done – Work undone Pipes filling and leakage
Destruction)
10. LCM Method Assume total work as LCM of days taken by Simplifies fraction-based
individuals calculations
11. One finishes a fraction, rest Find part done, remaining part and respective Very common in SSC exams
completes time
Time and Work – (Alternate Days Working Concept)
Type of Question Example Scenario How to Approach
1. A starts, B next, alternate A can do a work in 6 days, B in 12 days. They Find A’s and B’s 1-day work. Add both for 2-day
till completion work alternately starting with A. In how many cycle. Repeat till total work is done. If work left
days will the work be completed? after full cycles, assign last day accordingly.
2. Total work given, who Work is 20 units. A does 4 units/day, B does 2. Find how much work is done in each 2-day cycle
works on last day? A starts alternately. Who works on last day? (A+B), divide total work, check remaining.
Remaining work tells who works last.
3. B starts instead of A B starts first, works alternate days with A. Same logic as above, but reverse the sequence.
Who finishes last? Start cycle with B.
4. Work completed in N A and B work on alternate days starting with Count A’s and B’s days in sequence: A works on
days, how many days did A A. Total work done in 7 days. How many days odd days, B on even. Split 7 days accordingly: A = 4
and B work? did each work? days, B = 3 days.
5. Unequal Efficiency / A does 5 units/day, B does 3 units/day. A 2-day work = A+B = 8 units. Divide 35 by 8. After
Units Given starts, they work alternately. Total work = 35 full cycles, assign leftover work to A or B as per
units. Find days needed. day.
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