Question:
If William can finish the work in 12 days and Matthew can finish the same work in 15 days, then in how many days both can finish the work together?
Correct Answer
6 2/3 days or 6.667 days
Solution And Explanation
Solution
Given,
The number of days to finish the work by William = 12 days
And, the number of days to finish the same work by Matthew = 15 days
Thus, the number of days to finish the work by William and Matthew together = ?
Here,
∵ In 12 days the work done by William = 1
∴ In 1 day, the work done by William = 1/12 part
Similarly,
∵ In 15 days the work done by Matthew = 1
∴ In 1 day, the work done by Matthew = 1/15 part
Now, in 1 day, the work done by William and Matthew together
= In 1 day work done by William + In 1 day the work done by Matthew
= 1/12 + 1/15
= 5 + 4/60
= 9/60 part of work
= 9 ÷ 3/60 ÷ 3 part of work
= 3/20 part of work
This means, in 1 day, 3/20 part of the work is done by William and Matthew together.
Now, the number of days required to finish 3/20 part of work by William + Matthew working together = 1
∴ the number of days required to finish 1 work by William + Matthew together
= 1/3/20
= 1 × 20/3 = 20/3 days
= 6 2/3 days = or 6.667 days
Thus, William and Matthew working together will finish the work in 6 2/3 days = or 6.667 days Answer
Shortcut Trick to solve the problems based on time and work using formula
Case: If A can finish a work in a days, and B can finish the same work in b days,
then working together the number of days require to finish the work
= a × b/a + b days.
Here given,
The number of days required to finish the work by William = 12 days
And the number of days required to finish the same work by Matthew = 15 days
Thus, the number of days required to finish the work William and Matthew working together = ?
Here a = 12 days
And, b = 15 days
Thus, using formula a × b/a + b days
The number of days required to finish the work when William and Matthew working together
= 12 × 15/12 + 15 days
= 180/27 days
= 180 ÷ 9/27 ÷ 9 = 20/3 days
= 6 2/3 days or 6.667
Thus, William and Matthew together will finish the work in 6 2/3 days or 6.667 days Answer
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