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Question

Pipe A can fill a cistern in 10 hours, pipe B in 15 hours, and pipe C can empty it in 30 hours. All three pipes are opened together. After 6 hours, pipe A is closed, but B and C continue working. How much total time will it take to completely fill the cistern?

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RRB NTPC 2025 Under Graduate CBT 1 Question Paper PDF (20-Jun-2026) (Shift 3)
The correct answer is

12 hours

Rates: A fills at \(\tfrac{1}{10}\), B fills at \(\tfrac{1}{15}\), C empties at \(\tfrac{1}{30}\) per hour.

Combined rate for the first 6 hours: \(\tfrac{1}{10}+\tfrac{1}{15}-\tfrac{1}{30} = \tfrac{3+2-1}{30} = \tfrac{2}{15}\) per hour.

Work done in 6 hours: \(6\times\tfrac{2}{15} = \tfrac{4}{5}\). Remaining work: \(\tfrac15\).

After A closes, B and C combined rate: \(\tfrac{1}{15}-\tfrac{1}{30} = \tfrac{1}{30}\) per hour.

Time for remaining work: \(\dfrac{1/5}{1/30} = 6\) hours.

Total time: \(6+6 = 12\) hours.

Hence, it takes 12 hours in total to completely fill the cistern.

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Similar Questions

  1. Pipe A can fill a tank in 12 hours, pipe B can fill the same tank in 22 hours and pipe C can fill the same tank in 8 hours. The time taken by them to fill the same tank if they operate together is:
  2. Pipe A can fill a tank in 18 hours, pipe B can fill the same tank in 28 hours and pipe C can fill the same tank in 11 hours. The time taken by them to fill the same tank if they operate together is:
  3. Two pipes can fill a cistern, individually, in 36 min and 45 min, respectively. There is a pipe located at the bottom of the cistern to empty it. If all the three pipes are opened simultaneously, then the empty cistern gets filled in 70 min. How long will the pipe at the bottom of the tank take to empty the completely filled cistern if no other pipe is then open?
  4. Pipe A can fill a tank in 19 hours, pipe B can fill the same tank in 21 hours and pipe C can fill the same tank in 8 hours. The time taken by them to fill the same tank if they operate together is:
  5. Tap A can fill a tank in 6 h, whereas Tap B can fill it in 8 h. Tap C can empty the same tank in 4 h. If all the taps are opened together, how long will it take to fill the tank?
  6. An inlet pipe can fill a tank in 4 h and an outlet pipe can empty the tank in 6 h. By mistake, both the pipes are kept open. Find the number of hours in which the tank will be half-full.
  7. 6 pipes, all of same type, are required to fill a tank in 1 h 20 min. How long will it take if only 5 pipes of the same type are used?
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  9. Tap A can fill a tank in 40 min and Tap B can empty the tank in 60 min. If the taps are opened at the same time, then the time taken to fill the tank will be:
  10. Pipes A and B are fitted to a tank. A is the filling pipe and B can be used for filling or emptying at the same rate. When B is used for filling, it takes time 't' along with A to fill the tank. If it is used for emptying when A is filling the tank, the time taken for the tank to fill up would be '5t'. Find the ratio of the rates of A and B.

Important Questions from Pipe and Cistern

  1. Pipes A, B and C can fill a tank in 20, 30 and 60 hours, respectively. Pipes A, B and C are opened at 7 a.m., 8 a.m., and 9 a.m., respectively, on the same day. When will the tank be full?

  2. There are two water taps in a tank which can fill the empty tank in 12 hours and 18 hours respectively. It is seen that there is a leakage point at the bottom of the tank which can empty the completely filled tank in 36 hours. If both the water taps are opened at the same time to fill the empty tank and leakage point was repaired after 1 hour, then in how much time the empty tank will be completely filled?

  3. Two pipes A and B can fill a tank in 12 minutes and 24 minutes, respectively, while a third pipe C can empty the full tank in 32 minutes. All the three pipes are opened simultaneously. However, pipe C is closed 2 minutes before the tank is filled. In how much time (in minutes) will the tank be full?

  4. Pipes A and B can fill a tank in 12 hours and 16 hours respectively and pipe C can empty the full tank in 24 hours. All three pipes are opened together, but after 4 hours pipe B is closed. In how many hours, the empty tank will be completely filled?

  5. Pipes A and B can fill a tank in 43.2 minutes and 108 minutes, respectively. Pipe C can empty it at 3 litres/minute. When all the three pipes are opened together, they fill the tank in 54 minutes. The capacity (in litres) of the tank is:

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