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

Two taps can fill a cistern in 4 hours and 12 hours, respectively. A third tap can empty it in 12 hours. How long (in hours) will it take to fill one-fourth of the empty cistern if all the taps are opened together?

This question was previously asked in
RRB NTPC 2025 Graduate CBT 2 Question Paper PDF (10-Jul-2026) (Shift 1)
The correct answer is

1

Tap 1 fills the cistern at \(\tfrac14\) per hour, Tap 2 at \(\tfrac{1}{12}\) per hour, and Tap 3 empties it at \(\tfrac{1}{12}\) per hour.

The filling tap and emptying tap with the same rate (1/12) cancel out, leaving a combined rate of \(\tfrac14\) cistern per hour.

Time to fill one-fourth of the cistern at this rate: \(\dfrac{1/4}{1/4} = 1\) hour.

Hence, it takes 1 hour to fill one-fourth of the empty cistern.

Was this answer helpful?

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?
  8. Pipe 1 can empty a tank in 6 h while pipe 2 can do so in 18 h. If both are working together, in how much time will they empty the full tank?
  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. A pipe can fill a cistern in 20 minutes where as the cistern when full can be emptied by a leak in 28 minutes. When both are opened, The time taken to fill the cistern is:

  2. ‘A’ pipe can empty a tank in 20 minutes. The second pipe ‘B’ has a diameter twice as that of ‘A’. If both A & B pipe are attached to the tank how much time will be required to empty the tank?

  3. Pipes A and B can empty a full tank in 16 hours and 24 hours, respectively. Pipe C alone can fill the empty tank in 4 hours. If A, B and C are opened together, the tank will be 35% full after :

  4. Pipes A and B can fill a tank in 36 minutes and 45 minutes, respectively. Both these pipes were opened simultaneously. After 20 minutes, a leak at the bottom of the tank was spotted which was immediately sealed. The tank was full in another 15 minutes. The leak alone can empty the full tank in:

  5. A cistern has a leak which would empty it in 6 hours. A tap is turned on which admits 10 litres of water per minute into the cistern. When it is full it is now emptied in 10 hours. What is the capacity (in litres) of the cistern?

Need Expert Advice?
Upcoming Exams
RRB NTPC
September 27, 2026
Test Series
RRB NTPC img
Railways
RRB NTPC Under Graduate 2026 New Mock Test Series
1580 Tests 2 Tests Free
381 Attempts
4.3(493)
English, Hindi, Telugu +7 More

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