All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

To do a certain work, A and B work on alternate days with B beginning the work on the first day. A alone can complete the same work in 24 days. If the work gets completed in  \(11 \frac{1}{3}\)  days, then B alone can complete  \(\rm \frac{7}{9}^{th}\)  part of the original work in:

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2020 Tier-II (English) Previous Year Paper (29-Jan-2022)
The correct answer is

6 days

Understanding the Work and Time Problem

This problem involves two individuals, A and B, working on a task on alternate days. We are given the time A takes to complete the entire work alone, the total time taken for the work when they work alternately, and we need to find the time B takes to complete a specific fraction of the work alone.

Let's break down the information given:

  • A and B work on alternate days.
  • B starts the work on the first day.
  • A alone can complete the work in 24 days.
  • The work is completed in \(11 \frac{1}{3}\) days.
  • We need to find the time B alone takes to complete \(\rm \frac{7}{9}^{th}\) part of the original work.

Calculating Individual Work Rates

If A can complete the entire work in 24 days, A's work rate per day is the reciprocal of the total time taken.

  • A's 1 day work = \(\frac{1}{\text{Time taken by A alone}}\) = \(\frac{1}{24}\).

Let B's 1 day work be \(\frac{1}{b}\), where \(b\) is the number of days B takes to complete the work alone.

Determining the Number of Days A and B Worked

The work is completed in \(11 \frac{1}{3}\) days. B starts the work.

In 11 full days, since B starts, the sequence of work is B, A, B, A, ...

Days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 are working days for B.

Days 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 are working days for A.

  • Number of days B worked in the first 11 days = 6 days.
  • Number of days A worked in the first 11 days = 5 days.

The work continues for an additional \(\frac{1}{3}\) day. On the 12th day, it would be A's turn (since B worked on the 11th day). So, A works for the remaining \(\frac{1}{3}\) day.

  • Total number of days B worked = 6 days.
  • Total number of days A worked = 5 days + \(\frac{1}{3}\) day = \(5 \frac{1}{3}\) days = \(\frac{16}{3}\) days.

Calculating the Work Done by A

A's total work done is the product of A's daily work rate and the total number of days A worked.

A's total work = (A's 1 day work) \(\times\) (Total days A worked)

A's total work = \(\frac{1}{24} \times \frac{16}{3}\)

A's total work = \(\frac{16}{24 \times 3}\) = \(\frac{16}{72}\)

Simplifying the fraction:

A's total work = \(\frac{16 \div 8}{72 \div 8}\) = \(\frac{2}{9}\).

Calculating the Work Done by B

The total work done is 1 (representing the complete work). The total work is the sum of the work done by A and the work done by B.

Total work = Work done by A + Work done by B

\(1 = \frac{2}{9} + \text{Work done by B}\)

Work done by B = \(1 - \frac{2}{9}\)

Work done by B = \(\frac{9}{9} - \frac{2}{9} = \frac{7}{9}\).

So, B completed \(\frac{7}{9}\) of the total work in the 6 days B worked.

Finding B's Work Rate and Time for Full Work

We know B did \(\frac{7}{9}\) of the work in 6 days.

B's 1 day work = \(\frac{\text{Work done by B}}{\text{Days B worked}}\) = \(\frac{7/9}{6}\)

B's 1 day work = \(\frac{7}{9 \times 6} = \frac{7}{54}\).

If B does \(\frac{7}{54}\) of the work in 1 day, B can complete the full work (1) in \(\frac{1}{7/54}\) days.

Time taken by B alone for full work = \(\frac{54}{7}\) days.

Calculating Time Taken by B for \(\frac{7}{9}\) Part of Work

We need to find the time B alone takes to complete \(\frac{7}{9}\) part of the original work. We already found that B alone takes \(\frac{54}{7}\) days to complete the full work.

Time taken by B for \(\frac{7}{9}\) work = (Time taken by B for full work) \(\times\) \(\frac{7}{9}\)

Time taken by B for \(\frac{7}{9}\) work = \(\frac{54}{7} \times \frac{7}{9}\)

Time taken by B for \(\frac{7}{9}\) work = \(\frac{54}{9}\)

Time taken by B for \(\frac{7}{9}\) work = 6 days.

Summary of Calculations

Parameter Value
A's time for full work 24 days
A's 1 day work \(\frac{1}{24}\)
Total time for alternate work \(11 \frac{1}{3}\) days
Days B worked 6 days
Days A worked \(5 \frac{1}{3}\) days (\(\frac{16}{3}\) days)
Work done by A \(\frac{16}{3} \times \frac{1}{24} = \frac{2}{9}\)
Work done by B \(1 - \frac{2}{9} = \frac{7}{9}\)
B's 1 day work \(\frac{7/9}{6} = \frac{7}{54}\)
B's time for full work \(\frac{1}{7/54} = \frac{54}{7}\) days
Time for B to complete \(\frac{7}{9}\) work \(\frac{54}{7} \times \frac{7}{9} = 6\) days

Conclusion

Based on the calculations, B alone can complete \(\frac{7}{9}^{th}\) part of the original work in 6 days.

Revision Table: Work and Time Concepts

Concept Explanation Formula/Relation
Work Rate The amount of work done by a person in one unit of time (e.g., per day). Work Rate = \(\frac{\text{Total Work}}{\text{Time Taken}}\)
Time Taken The total time required to complete the work. Time Taken = \(\frac{\text{Total Work}}{\text{Work Rate}}\)
Total Work Often considered as 1 unit for calculation purposes. If work rate is per day, Total Work = Work Rate \(\times\) Total Days. Total Work = Sum of work done by individuals
Work Done in 'x' days Work Rate \(\times\) Number of days worked. Part of Work = Work Rate \(\times\) Days
Alternate Days Work Individuals work on consecutive days, alternating turns. The total work done in a cycle (usually 2 days) is the sum of their individual work rates for one day each. Cycle Work = Work Rate A \(\times\) 1 day + Work Rate B \(\times\) 1 day (if A and B work in a cycle)

Additional Information: Alternate Day Problems

Problems involving work done on alternate days require careful accounting of who works on which day and for how long. Key steps usually include:

  1. Determine the work done in one complete cycle (e.g., Day 1 by A, Day 2 by B).
  2. Calculate how many full cycles are completed within the total time, considering who starts the work.
  3. Calculate the work done in the full cycles.
  4. Determine the remaining work.
  5. Calculate the time taken to complete the remaining work by the person whose turn it is.
  6. Add the time for full cycles and the time for the remaining work to get the total time, or use the total time to deduce individual contributions as done in this problem.
  7. Always remember that if the total time is not an integer, the last fraction of a day is worked by only one person.
  8. The person who starts the work will work on days 1, 3, 5, ... and the other person on days 2, 4, 6, ...

Understanding the pattern of who works on which day is crucial for solving these types of problems accurately.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. Five men and 2 boys can do in 30 days as much work as 7 men and 10 boys can do in 15 days. How many boys should join 40 men to do the same work in 4 days?

  2. R, S and T can finish a work in 20, 15 and 10 days, respectively. R works on all days and S and T work on alternate days with T starting the work on the first day. In how many days is the work finished?

  3. A can do \(1 \over 3\) of a piece of work in 32 days, B can do \(37{1 \over 2}\)% of the same work in 24 days, while C can do 60% of the same work in 48 days. B and C together started and worked for x days. After x days, B left the work and A joined C and both completed the remaining work in (x + 8) days. If the ratio of the work done by (B + C) together to the work done by (A + C) together is 9 ∶ 11, then what fraction of the same work can be completed by C alone in 3.5x days?

  4. A group of college students had decided to complete a project in 10 days. As 2 students dropped out every day, the project got completed at the end of the 15th day. The number of students at the beginning of the project was:

  5. A,B and C can do a piece of work in 30 days, 40 days and 50 days, respectively. Beginning with A, if A, B and C do the work alternatively then in how many days will the work be finished?

  6. 15 men can complete a work in 25 days, and 25 women can complete the same work in 40 days. If all 15 men and 25 women work together, in how many days will the work get completed?

  7. Working 5 hours a day, A can complete a task in 8 days and working 6 hours a day, B can finish the same task in 10 days, working 8 hours a day, they can jointly complete the task in __________.

  8. A can do 20% of a job in 7 days and B can do 25% of the job in 7 days if they worked alone. How much of the job (in percentage) can they complete in 7 days if they worked together?

  9. A can complete a work in 18 days, while B can complete it in 12 days. B worked on it for 4 days. How long will A take to finish the remaining work?

  10. Pratima and Diksha can complete a typing work separately in 10 hours and 15 hours, respectively. After typing for 4 hours alone, Pratima leaves the work. In how many hours will Diksha complete the remaining typing work?  


Important Questions from Work Efficiency

  1. Five men and 2 boys can do in 30 days as much work as 7 men and 10 boys can do in 15 days. How many boys should join 40 men to do the same work in 4 days?

  2. A man completes 7/8 of a job in 21 days. How many more days will it take him to finish the job if quantum of work further increased by 50%?

  3. 24 men and 12 women can do a piece of work in 30 days. In how many days can 12 men and 24 women do the same piece of work?

  4. A and B together can do a piece of work in 4 days, B and C can do it in 6 days, A and C can do it in 8 days. Then A, B and C together can do the same work in :-

  5. A can complete 50% of a work in 9 days and B can do 25% of the work in 9 days, if they work alone. If they work together then how much work (in percentage) can be completed in 6 days?

Need Expert Advice?
Upcoming Exams
SSC CGL
September 30, 2026
UPSSSC PET
October 23, 2026
Test Series
SSC CGL img
SSC
SSC CGL (Tier I + Tier II) 2026 Mock Test Series - Latest Pattern
2503 Tests 6 Tests Free
5474 Attempts
4.2(868)
English, Hindi

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App