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Working alone at their respective constant rates, A can complete a task in ‘a’ days and B in ‘b’ days. They take turns in doing the task with each working 2 days at a time. If A starts they finish the task in exactly 10 days. If B starts, they take half a day more. How long does it take to complete the task if they both work together?
  • a)
    46/9
  • b)
    50/9
  • c)
    50/11
  • d)
    36/7
  • e)
    210/41
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Working alone at their respective constant rates, A can complete a tas...
Working alone at a constant rate if A takes 'a' days to complete a task, A will complete 1/a of the task in a day.
Step 1: Translate words into mathematical expressions
A will complete 1/a of the task in a day.
Therefore, in 2 days A will complete 2/a of the task in a day.
Similarly, A will complete 5/a of the task in 5 days.
If A starts, they finish the task in exactly 10 days.
A starts and works for 2 days. So, A will work on day 1 and day 2.
Then B will work for the next 2 days. B will work on day 3 and day 4.
A will continue for the next 2 days. i.e., on day 5 and day 6.
B will work on day 7 and day 8.
A will for the last 2 days i.e., day 9 and day 10.
Therefore, A will work on day 1, day 2, day 5, day 6, day 9, and day 10. i.e., for 6 days.
And B will work on day 3, day 4, day 7, and day 8. i.e., for 4 days.
In 6 days A will complete 6/a of the task.
In 4 days B will complete 4/a of the task.
With A working 6 days and B working 4 days, the task is completed.

If B starts, they finish the task they take half a day more. i.e., 10.5 days.
Therefore, B will work on day 1, day 2, day 5, day 6, day 9, and day 10. i.e., for 6 days.
And A will work on day 3, day 4, day 7, day 8 and half a day on day 11. i.e., for 4.5 days.
In 6 days B will complete 6/b of the task.
In 4 days A will complete 4.5/a of the task.
With B working 6 days and A working 4.5 days, the task is completed.

Step 2: Solve the two equations


Solving the two equations we get a = 9 days and b = 12 days.
The question: How long does it take to complete the task if they both work together?

Working together A and B will complete  th of the task in a day.
Hence, they will complete the task in 36/7 days.
Choice D is the correct answer.
 
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Community Answer
Working alone at their respective constant rates, A can complete a tas...
X hours and B can complete the same task in y hours. Let's assume that A completes 1/x of the task in 1 hour and B completes 1/y of the task in 1 hour.

If they work together, the amount of work they complete in 1 hour is the sum of their individual rates. So, A and B together complete 1/x + 1/y of the task in 1 hour.

To find the time it takes for them to complete the task together, we can calculate the reciprocal of their combined rate. The combined rate is 1/x + 1/y, so the time it takes for them to complete the task together is 1/(1/x + 1/y).

Simplifying this expression, we can find a common denominator for 1/x and 1/y, which is xy. Multiplying 1/x by y/y and 1/y by x/x, we get y/xy and x/xy, respectively. Adding these fractions, we have (y + x)/(xy).

Therefore, the time it takes for A and B to complete the task together is 1/(1/x + 1/y) = xy/(x + y).
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Working alone at their respective constant rates, A can complete a task in ‘a’ days and B in ‘b’ days. They take turns in doing the task with each working 2 days at a time. If A starts they finish the task in exactly 10 days. If B starts, they take half a day more. How long does it take to complete the task if they both work together?a)46/9b)50/9c)50/11d)36/7e)210/41Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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