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Three pipes A, B and C were opened to fill a cistern. Working alone, A, B and C require 12, 15 and 20 minutes respectively. Another pipe D, which is a waste pipe, can empty the filled tank in 30 minutes working alone. What is the total time (in minutes) taken to fill the cistern if all the pipes are simultaneously opened?
  • a)
    5 minutes
  • b)
    6 minutes
  • c)
    7 minutes
  • d)
    8 minutes
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Three pipes A, B and C were opened to fill a cistern. Working alone, ...
Let the capacity of the cistern be LCM(12, 15, 20, 30) = 60 units
⇒ Efficiency of pipe A = 60/12 = 5 units/minute.
⇒ Efficiency of pipe B = 60/15 = 4 units/minute.
⇒ Efficiency of pipe C = 60/20 = 3 units/minute.
⇒ Efficiency of pipe D = 60/30 = 2 units/minute.
Combined efficiency of pipe A, pipe B, pipe C and pipe D = 10 units/minute.
Therefore, time required to fill the cistern if all the pipes are opened simultaneously
= 60/10 = 6 minutes.
Hence, the correct option is (b).
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Community Answer
Three pipes A, B and C were opened to fill a cistern. Working alone, ...

Approach:
To find the total time taken to fill the cistern when all the pipes are simultaneously opened, we need to consider the combined rate of filling and emptying of the pipes.

Calculation:
We first calculate the rate of filling for each pipe:
- Pipe A fills 1/12 of the cistern in 1 minute.
- Pipe B fills 1/15 of the cistern in 1 minute.
- Pipe C fills 1/20 of the cistern in 1 minute.
- Pipe D empties 1/30 of the cistern in 1 minute.

Now, we calculate the combined rate of filling and emptying when all the pipes are opened simultaneously:
(1/12 + 1/15 + 1/20 - 1/30) = (5 + 4 + 3 - 2)/60 = 10/60 = 1/6

Therefore, the cistern will be filled in 6 minutes when all the pipes A, B, C, and D are opened simultaneously.

Conclusion:
The total time taken to fill the cistern when all the pipes are simultaneously opened is 6 minutes. Hence, option B is the correct answer.
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Three pipes A, B and C were opened to fill a cistern. Working alone, A, B and C require 12, 15 and 20 minutes respectively. Another pipe D, which is a waste pipe, can empty the filled tank in 30 minutes working alone. What is the total time (in minutes) taken to fill the cistern if all the pipes are simultaneously opened?a)5 minutesb)6 minutesc)7 minutesd)8 minutesCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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