Shortcut Trick
Total Work = LCM(22, 24, 33) = 264 units & Efficiencies: A = 12, B = 11, C = 8 units/day.
Work done in 1 cycle of 3 days (A + C + B) = 12 + 8 + 11 = 31 units.
Number of complete cycles = 264 ÷ 31 = 8 cycles (24 days), Work done = 31 × 8 = 248 units.
Remaining work = 264 − 248 = 16 units.
On Day 25, A completes 12 units (Remaining = 4). On Day 26, C takes 4 ÷ 8 = 1/2 day.
∴ The correct answer is 25 1/2 days.
Alternate Method
Given:
Time taken by A = 22 days
Time taken by B = 24 days
Time taken by C = 33 days
Work sequence: A on 1st day, C on 2nd day, B on 3rd day, and so on.
Method Used:
Total Work = LCM of given days
Efficiency = Total Work ÷ Days
| Person | Days | Total Work | Efficiency |
|---|
| A | 22 | 264 | 12 |
| B | 24 | 11 | |
| C | 33 | 8 | |
Calculations:
⇒ Work done in one cycle of 3 days (A + C + B) = 12 + 8 + 11 = 31 units
⇒ Number of full cycles in 264 units = 264 ÷ 31 = 8 complete cycles
⇒ Time taken for 8 complete cycles = 8 × 3 = 24 days
⇒ Work done in 24 days = 8 × 31 = 248 units
⇒ Remaining work = 264 − 248 = 16 units
⇒ On the 25th day, A works and completes 12 units
⇒ Remaining work after 25 days = 16 − 12 = 4 units
⇒ On the 26th day, C works to complete the remaining 4 units
⇒ Time taken by C = Work to be done ÷ Efficiency of C = 4 ÷ 8 = 1/2 day
⇒ Total time taken = 24 + 1 + 1/2 = 25 1/2 days
∴ The correct answer is 25 1/2 days.
Additional Information
Alternate Day Work Concept
When individuals work on alternate days, first find the total work done in one complete cycle. Divide the total work by the cycle work to get the number of full cycles, and calculate the remaining work for the subsequent days based on their strict working sequence.
Pipes & Cisterns
The concept is completely identical to Time & Work. Inlet pipes have positive efficiency (filling), while outlet pipes have negative efficiency (emptying) which is useful for alternate minute filling/emptying cycles.
Work & Wages
Wages are strictly distributed in the ratio of the actual total work done by each individual. If they work together for the same number of days, the wages are directly distributed in the ratio of their efficiencies.