Mike, Connor and Floyd can finish a certain piece of work in 8, 22 and 33 days, respectively. All three of them started the work together. Mike left the work after 4 days and Connor left just 2 days before the work was completed. Find the total number of days taken for the work to be completed.
- AOption (a)
3.8
- BOption (b)
7.8
- COption (c)
18.9
- DOption (d)
7.1
View answer & explanationHide answer & explanation
Correct answer
7.8
Why this answer is correct
Shortcut Trick
Total Work = LCM(8, 22, 33) = 264 units.
Efficiencies: Mike = 33, Connor = 12, Floyd = 8.
Adjusted Work = Total Work − (Mike's work) + (Connor's potential work for the 2 days he left early).
Adjusted Work = 264 − (33 × 4) + (12 × 2) = 264 − 132 + 24 = 156 units.
Total Days = Adjusted Work ÷ (Connor's efficiency + Floyd's efficiency) = 156 ÷ (12 + 8) = 7.8 days.
∴ The correct answer is 7.8 days.
Alternate Method
Given: Mike finishes in 8 days, Connor in 22 days, and Floyd in 33 days. Mike leaves after 4 days and Connor leaves 2 days before the end.
| Person | Days | Total Work | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike | 8 | 264 | 33 |
| Connor | 22 | 12 | |
| Floyd | 33 | 8 |
Let the total number of days taken to complete the work be T.
⇒ Mike's work + Connor's work + Floyd's work = Total Work
⇒ (33 × 4) + 12 × (T − 2) + (8 × T) = 264
⇒ 132 + 12T − 24 + 8T = 264
⇒ 108 + 20T = 264
⇒ 20T = 156
⇒ T = 156 ÷ 20 = 7.8 days
∴ The correct answer is 7.8 days.
Additional Information
Leaving Work Logic
If a person leaves after x days, subtract their x days of work from the total. If a person leaves before the completion, add their work for those missing days to the total work and treat them as present until the end.
Pipes and Cisterns
Similar to time and work, but outlet pipes have negative efficiency. Total capacity is equivalent to total work.
Work and Wages
Wages are always distributed in the ratio of the work done by each person. If they work for the same amount of time, the ratio of wages is the same as the ratio of their efficiencies.