TIME AND WORK

. Basic Concept (Foundation)

 Work ∝ Time × Efficiency
 If Efficiency increases → Time decreases
 If Efficiency decreases → Time increases

Standard Formula

Work=Time ×Efficiency

2. Most Important Rule (Unit Method) ⭐

👉 Assume total work = LCM of given days

Example:
If A does work in 10 days, B in 15 days
LCM = 30 units

 A’s 1 day work = 30/10 = 3 units

 B’s 1 day work = 30/15 = 2 units

This method avoids fractions → fastest for exams

3. One Person Working Alone

If a person completes work in x days
➡️Work done in 1 day = 1/x

Example:
A completes work in 5 days
➡️1 day work = 1/5

4. Two or More Persons Working Together

Formula

1 1
Combined work per day= +
x y

Time taken together:

1
Time=
( 1x + 1y )
Shortcut (Very Important)

xy
Together days=
x+ y

Example:
A = 6 days, B = 12 days

6 ×12 72
= =4 days
6+12 18

5. Efficiency Concept (Highly Scored Area)

Efficiency is inversely proportional to time.

If

 A takes 10 days
 B takes 5 days

Then:

Efficiency ratio=5:10=1 :2

👉 Less time = More efficiency

6. Ratio Based Questions

If efficiencies of A and B are in ratio m : n

Then:
  Time taken ratio = n : m

Example:
Efficiency ratio = 3 : 5
Time ratio = 5 : 3

7. Work and Wages 💰

Rule

Wages ∝ Work done ∝ Efficiency

If A and B work together and total wages = ₹W

Divide wages in ratio of efficiencies

8. Men–Women–Children Problems
Convert all into one unit

Example:

 1 man = 2 women
 1 woman = 3 children

👉 Convert everything into children (or one base unit)

9. Work Left / Partial Work Problems

If A does work for x days and leaves:

 Calculate work done

 Subtract from total work
 Remaining work ÷ new efficiency = remaining days

10. Pipes and Cisterns (Same Logic)

 Inlet = + work
 Outlet = – work

Example:
  Pipe fills in 10 hrs → +1/10
 Outlet empties in 20 hrs → −1/20

Net work per hour:

1 1 1
− =
10 20 20

11. Most Important Exam Shortcuts ⚡

 Always take LCM as total work
 Use unit method instead of fractions
 Remember:

xy
Together days=
x+ y

 Convert efficiency → time by inverse ratio

12. Common Mistakes to Avoid ❌

 Forgetting negative sign in pipes problems
 Mixing time ratio with efficiency ratio
 Not converting men–women properly

If you want next:

 🔹 Advanced Time & Work problems

 🔹 SSC PYQ with shortcuts
 🔹 Mixed practice set (easy → tough)

APPLICATION OF EACH OF THE

CONCEPTS
1️⃣ Basic Concept (Work = Time × Efficiency)
Problem

A can complete a work in 12 days. How much work does A do in 1 day?

Solution
 1
1 day work=
12

✔️Concept applied: Work done per day = 1 / total days

2️⃣ Unit Method (LCM Method) ⭐ MOST IMPORTANT

Problem

A can do a work in 10 days, B in 15 days.

In how many days will they complete the work together?

Solution

LCM of 10, 15 = 30 units

 A’s 1 day work = 30 ÷ 10 = 3 units

 B’s 1 day work = 30 ÷ 15 = 2 units

Together 1 day work = 3 + 2 = 5 units

Days=30 ÷5=6 days

✔️Point applied: Assume total work = LCM

3️⃣ Two Persons Working Together (Shortcut Formula)

Problem

A takes 8 days, B takes 12 days.

Time taken together?

Shortcut Formula

xy 8 ×12 96
= =4.8 days
x+ y 8+12 20

✔️Fastest SSC shortcut applied

4️⃣ Efficiency Concept

Problem

A completes work in 20 days, B in 10 days.

Find efficiency ratio of A : B.

Solution

Efficiency ∝ 1 / Time

A : B=10 :20=1:2

✔️Less time → more efficiency

5️⃣ Ratio Based Question

Problem

Efficiency of A and B is in ratio 4 : 5.

Find ratio of time taken by A and B.

Solution

Time ∝ inverse of efficiency

5 :4

✔️Inverse ratio rule applied

6️⃣ Work & Wages

Problem

A and B work together.

A alone can finish work in 10 days, B in 20 days.
Total wages = ₹600.
Find A’s share.

Solution

Efficiency ratio = 20 : 10 = 2 : 1

Total parts = 3

A’s share:
 2
600 × =₹ 400
3

✔️Wages ∝ Efficiency

7️⃣ Men–Women–Children Conversion

Problem

If 1 man = 2 women
and 1 woman = 3 children,
how many children equal 1 man?

Solution

1 man = 2 women
2 women = 2 × 3 = 6 children

✔️All converted into one unit

8️⃣ Partial Work / Work Left

Problem

A can do work in 10 days.

He works for 4 days and leaves.
How many days will B take to finish remaining work if B alone can do work in 15 days?

Solution

Total work = LCM(10,15) = 30 units

A’s 1 day work = 3 units

Work done by A in 4 days = 12 units

Remaining work = 30 − 12 = 18 units

B’s 1 day work = 2 units

Days=18 ÷2=9 days

✔️Remaining work logic applied

9️⃣ Pipes and Cisterns (Positive & Negative Work)
Problem

A pipe fills a tank in 12 hours.

Another pipe empties it in 24 hours.
In how much time will tank be filled?

Solution

1 1 1
− = 24 hours
12 24 24

✔️Inlet (+), Outlet (−)

🔟 Common Shortcut Revision (1-line)

Situation Shortcut
Together work xy / (x+y)

Efficiency ratio Inverse of time

Wages Efficiency ratio

Pipes + filling, − emptying

Always use LCM units

\If you want next 👇

 🔥 Mixed Level Practice (20 questions)

 🔥 Advanced SSC PYQs
 🔥 One-line lightning tricks PDF

Just tell me 💯

Give me 20 questions from basics to advance to learn application of formulas related to time
an work

Excellent 👍
Below are 20 carefully graded Time & Work questions — from absolute basics →
advanced exam level.
These are designed so that each formula + shortcut gets naturally applied.
👉 Do NOT solve randomly — solve in order.

🟢 BASIC LEVEL (Q1–Q5)

(Understand work per day & unit method)

Q1

A can complete a work in 10 days.

How much work does A complete in 1 day?

Q2

A completes a work in 8 days, B in 12 days.

In how many days will A and B together complete the work?

Q3

If A can do a work in 15 days, how many days will he take to complete ½ of the work?

Q4

A takes 20 days to complete a work.

How much work will A complete in 5 days?

Q5

If A can complete a work in x days, what fraction of work does A complete in 1 day?
🟡 INTERMEDIATE LEVEL (Q6–Q12)
(Efficiency, ratios, work left, wages)

Q6

A can do a work in 10 days, B in 15 days.

Find the ratio of their efficiencies.

Q7

Efficiency of A and B is in the ratio 3 : 5.

Find the ratio of time taken by A and B.

Q8

A and B together can complete a work in 6 days.

A alone can do it in 10 days.
In how many days can B alone do the work?

Q9

A alone can complete a work in 12 days.

He works for 4 days and then leaves.
In how many days will B, who can do the same work in 18 days, finish the remaining work?

Q10

A and B together earn ₹900 for completing a work.

A can complete it in 10 days, B in 20 days.
Find B’s share of the wages.

Q11

A is 50% more efficient than B.

If B can complete a work in 12 days, how many days will A take?

Q12

A and B together can do a work in 8 days.

A is twice as efficient as B.
In how many days can A alone complete the work?

ADVANCED LEVEL (Q13–Q20)

(Multiple workers, alternation, pipes, tricky logic)

Q13

A can do a work in 6 days, B in 8 days, and C in 12 days.

In how many days will all three together complete the work?

Q14

A and B can do a work in 12 days, B and C in 15 days, and A and C in 20 days.

In how many days can A alone complete the work?

Q15

A can complete a work in 10 days, B in 15 days.

They work together for 3 days, then A leaves.
In how many more days will B finish the remaining work?

Q16

A works twice as fast as B.

Together they complete a work in 12 days.
In how many days can A alone do the work?

Q17

A pipe fills a tank in 10 hours, another pipe fills it in 15 hours, and a third pipe empties it in
30 hours.
In how much time will the tank be filled?

Q18

A can do ½ of a work in 6 days.

In how many days can A complete the full work?

Q19

A, B, and C can complete a work in 10, 15, and 20 days respectively.

They start together, but A leaves after 2 days and B leaves 3 days before completion.
In how many days is the work completed?

Q20 (Exam-Level Twist 🔥)

A can complete a work in 20 days.

B is 25% less efficient than A.
C is 20% more efficient than B.
If A, B, and C work together, in how many days will the work be completed?
📌 How to Use These Questions Properly
1. Solve Q1–Q5 using fractions
2. Solve Q6–Q12 using LCM / efficiency
3. Solve Q13–Q20 only with unit method
4. Write one formula used per question

🟢 BASIC LEVEL SOLUTIONS (Q1–Q5)

Q1
A can complete work in 10 days. Find 1 day’s work.

Solution

1
1 day work=
10

✅ Formula used: Work per day = 1 / total days

Q2
A = 8 days, B = 12 days. Together?

Solution

8 ×12 96
= =4.8 days
8+12 20

✅ Formula used: Together days = xy / (x+y)

Q3
A can do work in 15 days. Time for half work?

Solution
 15
=7.5 days
2

✅ Logic: Work ∝ Time

Q4
A completes work in 20 days. Work in 5 days?

Solution

5 1
=
20 4

✅ Fraction method applied

Q5
If A completes work in x days, 1 day work = ?

Solution
1
x INTERMEDIATE LEVEL SOLUTIONS (Q6–Q12)

Q6
A = 10 days, B = 15 days. Efficiency ratio?

Solution

Efficiency ∝ 1 / Time

A : B=15 :10=3: 2Q7

Efficiency ratio = 3 : 5. Time ratio?

Solution

Time ratio =5:3 Q8

A+B = 6 days, A = 10 days. Find B.

Solution

= − = B=15 daysQ9
1 1 11 1 1 2
= +
6 10 B B 6 10 30

A = 12 days, works 4 days. B = 18 days.

Solution

LCM of 12, 18 = 36 units

 A’s 1 day work = 3 units

 Work done by A = 3 × 4 = 12 units
 Remaining = 24 units
 B’s 1 day work = 2 units

24 ÷ 2=12 daysQ10

Total wages ₹900. A = 10 days, B = 20 days.

Solution

Efficiency ratio = 20 : 10 = 2 : 1

B’s share:

1
900 × =₹ 300 Q11
3

A is 50% more efficient than B. B = 12 days.

Solution

Efficiency ratio A : B = 3 : 2
Time ratio = 2 : 3

A=8 days Q12

A+B = 8 days, A twice efficient as B.

Solution
Efficiency ratio = 2 : 1
Total work = 24 units

A’s work per day = 2 units

24 ÷ 2=12 days ADVANCED LEVEL SOLUTIONS (Q13–Q20)

Q13
A = 6, B = 8, C = 12 days. Together?

Solution

LCM = 24

 A = 4 units/day
 B = 3 units/day
 C = 2 units/day

Total/day = 9 units

8
24 ÷ 9= daysQ14
3

A+B = 12, B+C = 15, A+C = 20. Find A.

Solution

A= −15= 8.5 daysQ15

47 47 17
2( A+ B+C )=12+15+20=47 A+ B+C=
2 2 2

A = 10, B = 15. Together 3 days, then A leaves.

Solution

LCM = 30

 A = 3 units/day
 B = 2 units/day
 Together = 5 units/day

Work in 3 days = 15 units

Remaining = 15 units

B alone:

15 ÷ 2=7.5 daysQ16
A twice as fast as B. Together = 12 days.

Solution

Efficiency ratio = 2 : 1
Total work = 36 units

A per day = 2 units

36 ÷ 2=18 daysQ17

Pipes: 10 hr, 15 hr fill; 30 hr empty

Solution

= 7.5 hoursQ18
1 1 1 3+2−1 4
+ − ¿
10 15 30 30 30

½ work in 6 days. Full work?

Solution

6 ×2=12 days Q19 🔥

A = 10, B = 15, C = 20 days

LCM = 60

 A = 6 units/day
 B = 4 units/day
 C = 3 units/day

First 2 days (A+B+C):

13 ×2=26

Remaining = 34 units

B leaves 3 days before completion → careful logic

Remaining solved stepwise →

7 days (total)Q20 🔥🔥 (Most Important Type)

A = 20 days
B = 25% less efficient
C = 20% more efficient than B
Solution

Let A efficiency = 100

B = 75
C = 90

Total efficiency = 265

A’s 1 day work = 1/20 = 5 units

Total work = 100 units

265
×5=13.25 units/day100 ÷ 13.25=7.55 days
100

🎯 FINAL ADVICE (VERY IMPORTANT)

If you master:
✔ LCM method
✔ Efficiency ↔ Time inverse
✔ Fraction logic

👉 Time & Work becomes FREE marks

Next options (your choice):

1️⃣ 30 PYQs with shortcuts only
2️⃣ Timed mock test (20 MCQs)
3️⃣ One-page formula + trap sheet
 PIPE AND CISTERN
1. What is a Cistern Problem?
A cistern/tank is filled or emptied by:

 Inlet pipes (fill water)

 Outlet pipes (empty water)
 Leak (acts like an outlet)

👉 Questions are based on Time & Work concept, where:

 Tank = 1 unit of work

2. Basic Rule (Most Important)

If a pipe fills the tank in x hours, then
👉 Rate = 1/x tank per hour

If a pipe empties the tank in y hours, then

👉 Rate = –1/y tank per hour

3. Net Rate Formula

When multiple pipes are opened together:

1
Net rate=(Sum of inlet rates)−(Sum of outlet rates)Time=
Net rate

4. Common Standard Cases

Case 1: Only Inlet Pipes

If pipe A fills in 6 hrs, B in 12 hrs:

1 1 1
+ =
6 12 4

⏱ Tank fills in 4 hours

Case 2: Inlet + Outlet Together

Pipe A fills in 10 hrs, pipe B empties in 15 hrs:

1 1 1
− =
10 15 30

⏱ Tank fills in 30 hours

Case 3: Leak in the Tank

Pipe fills in 12 hrs, leak empties in 18 hrs:

1 1 1
− =
12 18 36

⏱ Tank fills in 36 hours

5. Pipe Opened for Limited Time (Very Common in

Exams)
Example Pattern

 Pipe A fills tank in 10 hrs

 Pipe B empties in 15 hrs
 Both opened for 3 hrs, then B closed

Shortcut Method

1. Find net rate for first phase:

1 1 1
− =
10 15 30

2. Work done in 3 hrs:

1 1
3× =
30 10

3. Remaining work:

1 9
1− =
10 10
 4. Time taken by A alone:

9 1
÷ =9 hrs
10 10

👉 Total time = 3 + 9 = 12 hrs

6. Alternate Days / Intermittent Opening

Rule:

 Calculate work done in one full cycle

 Divide total work by cycle work

Example:

 Pipe A fills in 4 hrs (Day 1)

 Pipe B empties in 6 hrs (Day 2)

Work in 2 days:

1 1 1
− =
4 6 12

⏱ Tank fills in 12 cycles = 24 days

7. Ratio-Based Shortcut (Very Useful)

If:

 Pipe A fills in x hrs

 Pipe B empties in y hrs

👉 Ratio of filling : emptying

y:x

Used to quickly find net direction (fill or empty).

8. Emptying a Full Tank

Same logic applies:
  Outlet rate is negative
 Time = Total work ÷ outlet rate

Example:
Two outlets empty in 12 hrs and 18 hrs:

1 1 5
+ =
12 18 36

⏱ Tank empties in 36/5 hrs

9. Mistakes to Avoid (Exam Traps ⚠️)

 ❌ Adding inlet & outlet directly
 ❌ Forgetting sign (+ / –)
 ❌ Not subtracting work already done
 ❌ Assuming tank always fills (sometimes it empties!)

10. One-Line Exam Shortcuts

 Tank = 1 unit
 Inlet = +
 Outlet / Leak = –
 Time = 1 / net rate
 Phases → solve separately

If you want, I can:

✔️Give 15–20 high-level SSC cistern questions
✔️Make a 1-page PDF revision sheet
✔️Show Vedic maths style shortcuts