Time & Work
As a future business manager, we are required to manage our Time and complete our work within deadlines. The topic of Time and Work is therefore of utmost importance in any MBA entrance exam. The questions framed from this section are sometimes tricky and hence need a lot of practice. Some of the important questions in Arithmetic for CAT are from this section only.
CAT–
Due to an increase in the number of Arithmetic questions in the CAT exam, the number of Time and Work questions has also increased. A total of 5-6 questions are set on Arithmetic. Out of these, questions on Time & Work ranges from 2 to 3. The questions are tricky and usually demands a good hold on concepts
Year | No of | Good | Difficulty | |
2019 | Slot 1 | 2 | 2 | Moderate |
Slot 2 | 1 | 0 | Difficult | |
2018 | Slot 1 | 3 | 2 | Moderate |
Slot 2 | 3 | 2 | Moderate | |
XAT –
Time & Work questions in XAT mostly ranges from 1 to 2; these questions are generally difficult and should only be attempted at last.
Year | No of | Good | Difficulty |
2020 | 1 | 0 | Difficult |
2019 | 2 | 1 | Moderate |
Time & Work questions in SNAP ranges from 1 to 2. They are slightly tricky and hence it will be advisable to attempt these questions if you are confident.
Year | No of | Good | Difficulty |
2019 | 2 | 2 | Moderate |
2018 | 1 | 1 | Moderate |
List of concepts
There are some set concepts or types on which questions are framed. A thorough understanding of each type of problem would help in tackling the exam. Time & Work questions in CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, etc. are of the following types:
- Simple formula-based
- Time & Work problems based on Equation: Questions are based on forming equations based on given data and solving them
- Efficiency based: In this type, the efficiency of a person in comparison to another person, will be given. For example, Ram is twice as efficient as Shyam, Shyam finishes the work in 16 days, in how many days will they together complete the task?
- Efficiency percentage is given, calculate the time: In this type of question, mostly the time taken by one person is given and the efficiency of the second person is also given, you are supposed to find the time taken by them together
- Calculate Time when workers join/ leave in between tasks: Questions based on calculating the time taken by workers to finish a specific job when new workers join, or some workers leave the task in between
- Pipes and Cistern based: Questions based on this type are very common in the CAT exam; inlet and outlet pipes are kept open in a tank, and the time required to fill the tank has to be calculated. These questions can be a little tricky
Details on This Page
CAT Previous Year Profit and Loss Questions
Question 1: Anil alone can do a job in 20 days while Sunil alone can do it in 40 days. Anil starts the job, and after 3 days, Sunil joins him. Again, after a few more days, Bimal joins them and they together finish the job. If Bimal has done 10% of the job, then in how many days was the job done? [CAT-2019]
In 3 days, Anil does 3/20 of work
Let a and s work for x days,
then total work done = 3x/40
So, 3/20 + 3x/40 = 9/10 15/20 = 3x/40 X = 10
So, total no. of days = 13
Question 2: John gets Rs 57 per hour of regular work and Rs 114 per hour of overtime work. He works altogether 172 hours and his income from overtime hours is 15% of his income from regular hours. Then, for how many hours did he work overtime? [CAT-2019]
let the number of overtime hours for john = x
So no regular hours = 172 –x
Income from overtime hours = (x)*114
Income from regular hours = (172-x)*57
Total income = 114x + (172 –x)*57 = 172*57 + 57x
As per question 15% of (172 – x) *57 = 114x
15/100 (172 +x)= 2x
15*172* – 15x = 200x
215x = 15*172
x = 12
Question 3: Ramesh and Ganesh can together complete a work in 16 days. After seven days of working together, Ramesh got sick and his efficiency fell by 30%. As a result, they completed the work in 17 days instead of 16 days. If Ganesh had worked alone after Ramesh got sick, in how many days would he have completed the remaining work? [CAT-2018]
Let r and g be the rates of work of Ramesh and Ganesh respectively.
Let (r+g)16=1
(r+g)=1/16
(r+g)7=7/16
Remaining work to be done = 9/16
Given, (0.7r+g)10=9/16
7r+10g=9r+9g
r=1/48
g=1/24
Question 4: A water tank has inlets of two types A and B. All inlets of type A when open, bring in the water at the same rate. All inlets of type B, when open, bring in the water at the same rate. The empty tank is filled in 30 minutes if 10 inlets of type A and 45 inlets of type B are open, and in 1 hour if 8 inlets of type A and 18 inlets of type B are open. In how many minutes will the empty tank get filled if 7 inlets of type A and 27 inlets of type B are open? [CAT-2018]
Let the rate of filling of Type A and Type B pipes be a and b respectively
Given 30×(10a + 45b) = 1 and 60×(8a + 18b) = 1
30 × (10a + 45b) = 60 × (8a + 18b)
10a + 45b = 16a + 36b => 3b = 2a or a = 1.5b
The total work = 30 × (10a + 45b) = 30 × (15b + 45b) = 1800b
Hence, required answer = 1800b/( 7a + 27b)
= 1800b/(10.5b + 27b) = 4
How to Prepare for Time & Work
Preparing any topic from the scratch requires patience, hard work, and above all commitment. To prepare for Time & Work, here are some Level-wise preparatory guidelines to follow:
Level – 1
- Learn Speed calculation: For an effective and quick calculation, be thorough with tables till 20, memorize squares till 30, and cubes till 15
- Fraction – Percentage relation: Ratios, Fractions, and Percentage interchange help in solving complex problems in a very small amount of time. Keeping them on tip of your finger will help you save time during the exam. Memorize the fraction-percentage interrelation. For example, 1/2 is 50%, 1/3 is 33.33%, and so on
- Note down all the formulas in this chapter and keep revising them
- Practice beginner level questions on Efficiency based problems, Pipes and Cisterns, and Capital division based on work done
- Questions on Pipes and Cisterns are asked quite frequently in CAT and XAT, so the basic should be clear
Level – 2
- Move on to more complex problems, attempt beginner and intermediate level mock on concepts of Time & Work
- Solve previous year questions on Time & Work and keep a watch on time. These questions are easy but take a lot of time if not attempted properly
- Keep attempting mocks to check your performance
- Topic-wise mocks, provided by MBAP, can be utilized to enhance your performance
- For advanced level preparation, start practicing questions from Arun Sharma
- Questions in Arun Sharma are categorized into Level of Difficulty (LOD), based upon your preparation level, start attempting 3 or 4 questions daily
Reach Us
- B-19, Satyam Shopping Complex, M. G. Road, Ghatkopar (E)- 400077
- 9820257156 / 9769617665
- info@mbapindia.com
Study With Us
Free Material Area
primary Menu
Inspiring Education… Assuring Success!!
Ⓒ 2020 – All Rights Are Reserved