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 SSC CGL
Time & Work is part of the Quantitative Aptitude section (25% of the SSC CGL syllabus). See the full SSC CGL Tier-I breakdown.
Time & Work Solved Examples for SSC CGL
Exam-pattern questions from the practice bank, with full solutions.
If 6 men and 8 women can complete a work in 10 days, and 26 men and 48 women can complete it in 2 days, find the time taken by 15 men and 20 women to complete the work.
- A.4 daysCorrect
- B.5 days
- C.3 days
- D.6 days
Solution
Let 1 man's 1 day work = m and 1 woman's 1 day work = w. (6m + 8w) x 10 = 1 => 60m + 80w = 1 ...(1) (26m + 48w) x 2 = 1 => 52m + 96w = 1 ...(2) From (1) and (2): 60m + 80w = 52m + 96w => 8m = 16w => m = 2w. Substitute in (1): 60(2w) + 80w = 1 => 200w = 1 => w = 1/200, m = 1/100. 15 men + 20 women = 15/100 + 20/200 = 15/100 + 10/100 = 25/100 = 1/4 per day. Days = 4.
Ram and Ramesh can do a work in 12 days, Ramesh and Somesh in 15 days and Somesh and Ram in 10 days. If Ram, Ramesh and Somesh work together, in how many days will they complete the work?
- A.10
- B.8Correct
- C.12
- D.6
Solution
Let R, Ra, and S be the work done by Ram, Ramesh and Somesh in 1 day. R + Ra = 1/12, Ra + S = 1/15, S + R = 1/10. Adding all, 2(R + Ra + S) = 1/12 + 1/15 + 1/10 = (5+4+6)/60 = 15/60 = 1/4. R + Ra + S = 1/8. So, they will complete the work in 8 days.
A, B and C can do a work in 10, 12 and 15 days respectively. They all start together. After 2 days, A leaves. After 2 more days, B also leaves. How many more days will C take to finish the remaining work?
- A.3 daysCorrect
- B.5 days
- C.4 days
- D.6 days
Solution
LCM(10, 12, 15) = 60 units (total work). A = 6 units/day, B = 5 units/day, C = 4 units/day. First 2 days (all three): 2 x (6+5+4) = 30 units. Next 2 days (B and C): 2 x (5+4) = 18 units. Remaining = 60 - 30 - 18 = 12 units. C alone: 12/4 = 3 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 SSC CGL?
22 exam-pattern Time & Work questions for SSC CGL Quantitative Aptitude, each with a step-by-step solution. Practice is free — no sign-up needed to start.