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Question

Instructions: Evaluate the following statements to determine if the information provided is sufficient to answer the question.
Question: If P, Q, and R work together, how many days will they take to complete a project?
Statement I: Q and R together can complete the project in 10 days.
Statement II: P and R together can complete the project in 15 days.

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2025 Tier 1 Question Paper (25-Sep-2025) (Shift 3)
The correct answer is
Even when combined, the information in both Statement I and Statement II is not enough to answer the question.

Evaluating Data Sufficiency for Project Completion Time

The question asks for the number of days required for P, Q, and R to complete a project working together. We need to determine if the given statements provide enough information.

Let the total amount of work required to complete the project be represented by 1 unit. Let the daily work rates of P, Q, and R be $p$, $q$, and $r$ units per day, respectively. The time taken to complete the project is calculated as $\frac{\text{Total Work}}{\text{Combined Work Rate}}$. We need to find the value of $\frac{1}{p+q+r}$.

Statement I Analysis

Statement I says that Q and R together can complete the project in 10 days.

This translates to the equation:

$(q + r) \times 10 = 1$

$\implies q + r = \frac{1}{10}$

This statement gives us the combined work rate of Q and R. However, it does not provide any information about P's work rate ($p$). With only $q+r$, we cannot determine $p+q+r$. Therefore, Statement I alone is not sufficient.

Statement II Analysis

Statement II says that P and R together can complete the project in 15 days.

This translates to the equation:

$(p + r) \times 15 = 1$

$\implies p + r = \frac{1}{15}$

This statement gives us the combined work rate of P and R. It does not provide any information about Q's work rate ($q$). With only $p+r$, we cannot determine $p+q+r$. Therefore, Statement II alone is not sufficient.

Combined Statements Analysis

Combining both statements, we have the following two equations:

  1. $q + r = \frac{1}{10}$
  2. $p + r = \frac{1}{15}$

We want to find $p+q+r$. Let's see if we can determine this sum from the two equations.

If we add the two equations:

$(q + r) + (p + r) = \frac{1}{10} + \frac{1}{15}$

$p + q + 2r = \frac{3}{30} + \frac{2}{30}$

$p + q + 2r = \frac{5}{30} = \frac{1}{6}$

This equation can be written as $(p + q + r) + r = \frac{1}{6}$.

We have one equation relating $p$, $q$, and $r$, but we have three unknown variables ($p$, $q$, $r$). We cannot determine the value of $p+q+r$ uniquely. For example, we don't know the individual rates $p$, $q$, or $r$. We need at least one more independent piece of information (like the rate of P alone, Q alone, R alone, or the combined rate of P and Q) to find the combined rate $p+q+r$.

Therefore, even when combined, the information in both statements is not sufficient to answer the question.

Conclusion

Neither statement alone nor both statements combined provide sufficient information to determine the number of days P, Q, and R will take to complete the project working together.

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Important Questions from Data Sufficiency

  1. Which of the following statement is correct?

    I. The value of 1002 - 992 + 98972 + 962 - 952 + 942  - 932  + ......  + 222   - 212 is 4840.

    II. The value of 

    \(\left(k^2+ \frac{1}{k^2} \right) \left(k- \frac{1}{k} \right) \left(k^4+ \frac{1}{k^4} \right) \) \(\left(k+ \frac{1}{k} \right)\left(k^4- \frac{1}{k^4} \right)\) is \(k^{16}- \frac{1}{k^{16}}\).

  2. Given below is a question followed by two statements I and II. Read both statements carefully to decide which one of them is sufficient to answer the question.

    Six people - A, B, C, D, E and F are sitting in a straight line facing north. Who sits to the immediate left of D?

    (I) A sits second from one of the extreme ends of the line. Only two people sit between A and B. E sits to the immediate right of C.

    (II) C sits third from the left end of the line. Only one person sits between C and F. E sits third to the right of F.

  3. Please read the below equation and select an appropriate option from the following.

    x + y = 10 ; y = x - 2

    Quantity A is x.

    Quantity B is y.

  4. A lady wants to buy the following items in the given price range-

    1. Tomato between Rs. 40 and Rs. 45 per kg.

    2. Grapes in the price range of Rs. 80 and Rs. 90 per kg.

    3. Milk packets at Rs. 23 per liter.

    In which shop from the following will she definitely get all her items/

    A. Shop S sells tomato at Rs. 22.5 per half kg, Grapes at Rs. 82 per kg and milk at Rs. 24 per liter.

    B. Shop H sells grapes at Rs. 21 per quarter kg, milk at 12.5 per half litre and tomato at Rs. 22 per half kg.

    C. Shop O sells milk at Rs. 11.5 per half litre, tomato at 21 per half kg and grapes at Rs. 43 per half kg.

    D. Shop P sells tomato at Rs. 23.5 per half kg, grapes at Rs. 85 per kg and milk at Rs. 23 per litre.
  5. You are given a question and two statements. Identify which of the statements is/are sufficient to answer the question.

    Question:

    When is Yuvi's wedding anniversary?

    Statements:

    1: On the 7 th day of a month.

    2. The month has 29 days only in a leap year.

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