Shortcut Trick
In 543/4 days on alternate days starting with Ratnesh, Ratnesh works for 273/4 days and Vineet works for 27 days.
Since Ratnesh alone takes 48 days, the work remaining for Vineet to finish is what Ratnesh would do in 48 − 27.75 = 20.25 days.
Efficiency ratio R : V = 27 : 20.25 = 1 : 0.75 = 4 : 3.
Time taken by Vineet = 48 × (4 ÷ 3) = 64 days.
∴ The correct answer is 64 days.
Alternate Method
Given:
Time for Ratnesh (R) alone = 48 days
Total time (alternate) = 543/4 = 54.75 days
Formula: Total Work = Efficiency × Time
| Person | Days Alone | Total Work | Efficiency |
|---|
| Ratnesh | 48 days | 192 units | 4 units/day |
| Vineet | 64 days | 3 units/day | |
Calculations:
⇒ Total days = 54.75 days. Since Ratnesh starts on day 1, he works on all odd days.
⇒ Ratnesh works for 27 full days (1, 3, ..., 53) + 0.75 of day 55 = 27.75 days.
⇒ Vineet works for 27 full days (2, 4, ..., 54).
⇒ Let R's efficiency be ER and V's efficiency be EV.
⇒ Total Work = 48 × ER
⇒ Also, Total Work = 27.75 × ER + 27 × EV
⇒ 48 × ER = 27.75 × ER + 27 × EV
⇒ (48 − 27.75) × ER = 27 × EV
⇒ 20.25 × ER = 27 × EV
⇒ EV = (20.25 ÷ 27) × ER = 0.75 × ER
⇒ Time for Vineet alone = (48 × ER) ÷ (0.75 × ER) = 48 ÷ 0.75 = 64 days.
∴ The correct answer is 64 days.
Additional Information
Alternate Day Work
When two people work on alternate days, we calculate the work done in a 2-day cycle. If A starts, A works on days 1, 3, 5... and B works on days 2, 4, 6...
Efficiency and Time Relationship
Efficiency is inversely proportional to the time taken to complete the work (E1 × T1 = E2 × T2).
Combined Efficiency
Total efficiency in one cycle (2 days) = Efficiency of A + Efficiency of B.