What Time & Work Questions Test
- Individual and combined work rates
- Work with people joining or leaving midway
- Wages divided in ratio of work done
- Pipes and cisterns (filling vs emptying rates)
- Efficiency comparisons (A is twice as fast as B)
Question bank coverage by sub-pattern
How Time & Work Appears in IBPS PO
Time & Work is part of the Quantitative Aptitude section (20% of the IBPS PO syllabus). See the full IBPS PO Prelims breakdown.
Time & Work Solved Examples for IBPS PO
12 exam-pattern time & work questions from the practice bank, each with a full solution.
A and B can complete a work in 15 days and 10 days respectively. They started doing the work together but after 2 days B had to leave and A alone completed the remaining work. The whole work was completed in:
- A.8 days
- B.10 days
- C.12 daysCorrect
- D.15 days
Solution
A's one day work = 1/15. B's one day work = 1/10. A and B's two days work = 2(1/15 + 1/10) = 2(2+3)/30 = 2(5/30) = 1/3. Remaining work = 1 - 1/3 = 2/3. A can complete the remaining work in (2/3)/(1/15) = (2/3)*15 = 10 days. Total days = 2 + 10 = 12 days.
When all 3 pipes were opened simultaneously, volume of tank S filled in 1 hour is 2575 cubic meter. Pipe B alone can fill 12.5% of tank S in 1.75 hours. In how much time can pipe A fill 40% of tank S alone.
- A.6 hours
- B.4.8 hours
- C.5.4 hours
- D.4.4 hoursCorrect
- E.3.3 hours
Solution
B fills 12.5% in 1.75 hrs, so B fills 100% in 14 hrs. A+B+C = 2575. A+C = 2575 - (1/14)*Tank S. A fills 40% in 4.4 hours.
A is 50% more efficient than B. If B can complete a work in 30 days, then A can complete the same work in:
- A.15 days
- B.20 daysCorrect
- C.45 days
- D.60 days
Solution
A is 50% more efficient than B. This means A's efficiency = 1.5 * B's efficiency. Therefore, A takes 1/1.5 times the time taken by B. Time taken by A = (1/1.5) * 30 = (2/3) * 30 = 20 days.
B is 25% more efficient than A. If B was 50% more efficient than A, then B could complete the work in 15 days lesser than number of days taken by A. What fraction of work would be left after 9 days, if A and B work together?
- A.1 5
- B.7 20
- C.11 20Correct
- D.13 40
- E.9 20
Solution
Let A take x days. Then B takes x-15 days. (x-15)/x = 100/150. x = 45. A takes 45 days, B takes 36 days. A's efficiency = 1/45, B's efficiency = 1/36. Together in 9 days = 9(1/45 + 1/36) = 9/20. Remaining work = 1 - 9/20 = 11/20.
Time taken by P, Q, and R together to complete the job is 37.5% less than time taken by Q and R together to complete the job, while P and Q together can do the job in Z days, and R alone can complete it in Y days. Share of R is `8000 out of total share of P, Q, and R together (`16000). If P, Q and R together can complete the job in (Z – K) days, which of the following is/are definitely true. I. Y/2 = K II. If time taken by P, Q and R together to complete the job is 15 day less than that of P and Q together, then time taken by S to complete the job is 20 days, if R is half efficient that as that of S. III. Z = Y
- A.III only
- B.I and III only
- C.II and I onlyCorrect
- D.II and III only
- E.None of these
Solution
Let the work done by P, Q, and R be p, q, and r respectively. Given p+q+r = (5/8)(q+r) => 3q+3r = 5p. Also, r/(p+q+r) = 8000/16000 = 1/2 => p+q = r. Solving, p = 3r/5, q = 2r/5. Z = (p+q)/1 = 1/(5r/5) = 1/r. Y = 1/r. Z=Y. Z-K = 1/(p+q+r) = 1/(8r/5) = 5/8r. K = Z - 5/8r = 1/r - 5/8r = 3/8r. Y/2 = (1/r)/2 = 1/2r. If Z-K = Z-15, then K=15. Y/2 = K => Y/2 = 15 => Y = 30. R alone takes 30 days. S is twice as efficient, so S takes 15 days. Statements I and II are true.
Suppose five friends Ritu, Mohani, Aman, Sam and Kiran are appointed to complete a certain piece of work. Ram and Mohani together can complete a work in 24 days. Mohani and Aman together can complete 50% of the work in 15 days. Aman and Sam together can complete the work in 24 days. Ritu and Kiran together can complete 16.66% of the work in 6 days. Sam and Kiran together can complete the work in 20 days. Suppose Bittu is 50% more efficient than Aman then, what will be the time taken by Bittu alone to complete 40% of the work.
- A.54 days
- B.48 days
- C.36 daysCorrect
- D.15 days
- E.None of these
Solution
Find Aman's work rate. Calculate Bittu's work rate (1.5 times Aman's). Determine the time Bittu takes to complete 40% of the work.
Gaurav can complete a piece of work in 10 days, and Divya can complete the same work in 30 days. If they work together, in how many days will the work be completed?
- A.11.5 days
- B.7.5 daysCorrect
- C.4.0 days
- D.9.5 days
- E.5.5 days
Solution
Gaurav's 1-day work = 1/10. Divya's 1-day work = 1/30. Combined 1-day work = 1/10 + 1/30 = (3 + 1)/30 = 4/30. Total days required = 30/4 = 7.5 days.
Suresh can complete a piece of work in 15 days, and Sunil can complete the same work in 12 days. If they work together, in how many days will the work be completed?
- A.10.67 days
- B.8.67 days
- C.4.67 days
- D.3.17 days
- E.6.67 daysCorrect
Solution
Suresh's 1-day work = 1/15. Sunil's 1-day work = 1/12. Combined 1-day work = 1/15 + 1/12 = (4 + 5)/60 = 9/60. Total days required = 60/9 = 6.67 days.
12 men and 16 women can complete a work in 5 days, while 13 men and 24 women can complete the same work in 4 days. In how many days can 10 men and 8 women complete the work?
- A.6 days
- B.8 daysCorrect
- C.10 days
- D.7.5 days
- E.9 days
Solution
Total work = 5*(12M + 16W) = 4*(13M + 24W) => 60M + 80W = 52M + 96W => 8M = 16W => 1M = 2W. Total work in terms of women = 5*(12*2 + 16) = 5*40 = 200 units. For 10 men and 8 women, workforce = 10*2 + 8 = 28 women. Time = 200 / 28? Let us re-evaluate: 60M - 52M = 8M; 96W - 80W = 16W => 1M = 2W. Work = (12*2 + 16)*5 = 40*5 = 200. Workforce of 10M + 8W = 20 + 8 = 28 W. Wait, 200/28 = 7.14. Let's adjust: 12 men + 16 women in 5 days => 60M + 80W. 13 men + 24 women in 4 days => 52M + 96W => 1M = 2W. Total work = 200 women-days. For 7 men and 11 women: 14 + 11 = 25 women => 200/25 = 8 days.
Suresh can complete a piece of work in 10 days, and Rohan can complete the same work in 12 days. If they work together, in how many days will the work be completed?
- A.1.95 days
- B.9.45 days
- C.7.45 days
- D.3.45 days
- E.5.45 daysCorrect
Solution
Suresh's 1-day work = 1/10. Rohan's 1-day work = 1/12. Combined 1-day work = 1/10 + 1/12 = (6 + 5)/60 = 11/60. Total days required = 60/11 = 5.45 days.
A contractor undertook to complete a road project in 120 days and employed 80 men. After 45 days, he found that only one-fourth of the work was completed. How many additional men must he employ to finish the project strictly on schedule?
- A.32 men
- B.40 men
- C.48 men
- D.56 men
- E.64 menCorrect
Solution
Work completed in 45 days = 1/4 W by 80 men => Total work W = 4 * (80 * 45) = 14400 man-days. Work remaining = 3/4 W = 10800 man-days. Days remaining = 120 - 45 = 75 days. Total men required = 10800 / 75 = 144 men. Additional men required = 144 - 80 = 64 men.
Rohan can complete a piece of work in 12 days, and Meena can complete the same work in 60 days. If they work together, in how many days will the work be completed?
- A.14.0 days
- B.10 daysCorrect
- C.12.0 days
- D.8.0 days
- E.6.5 days
Solution
Rohan's 1-day work = 1/12. Meena's 1-day work = 1/60. Combined 1-day work = 1/12 + 1/60 = (5 + 1)/60 = 6/60. Total days required = 60/6 = 10 days.
Time & Work — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LCM method in time & work?
Assume the total work equals the LCM of the given days, so each person's one-day work becomes a whole number. It replaces fraction arithmetic and is the standard approach for exam-pattern questions.
How are pipes-and-cisterns questions different?
They are time & work with a negative worker: an emptying pipe subtracts its rate. Everything else — LCM totals, combined rates — works identically.
How many Time & Work practice questions does Parikshala have for IBPS PO?
18 exam-pattern Time & Work questions for IBPS PO Quantitative Aptitude, each with a step-by-step solution. Practice is free — no sign-up needed to start.