Problem No.

A tank can be filled by one pipe in 9 hrs and by another pipe in 12 hrs starting empty, how long it
will take to fill the tank if water is being taken out by a third pipe at rate per hour equal to one-sixth the
capacity of the tank?

A. 18 hrs B. 15 hrs C. 21 hrs D. 36 hrs

Given:

T1 = 9hrs
T2 = 12hrs
1/T3 = 1/6 rate/hr

Required:

How long it will take to fill the tank (TT)

Solution:

1 1 1 1
+ − =
T1 T 2 T 3 T T
1 1 1 1
+ − =
9 12 6 T T
72+54−108 1
=
648 TT
18T T 648
=
18 18

TT = 36 hrs

ANSWER: D

Discussion:

Using the conditions in the given question, we obtained the time interval for a tank to filled with
water while the water is being taken out by a third pipe at 1/6 rate per hour of the capacity of the tank.
The total time interval will be 36 hours to fill the tank, letter D.