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A tank has 5 inlet pipes. Three pipes are narrow and two are wide. Each of the three narrow pipes works at 1/2 the rate of each of the wide pipes. All the pipes working together will take what fraction of time taken by the two wide pipes working together to fill the tank?
  • a)
    1/2
  • b)
    2/3
  • c)
    3/4
  • d)
    3/7
  • e)
    4/7
Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
A tank has 5 inlet pipes. Three pipes are narrow and two are wide. Eac...
We are given that rate of work of 1 narrow pipe : rate of work of 1 wide pipe = 1 : 2
If we can find the ratio of rate of work of 2 wide pipes : rate of work of all pipes together, then we can easily get the ratio of time taken by 2 wide pipes : time taken by all pipes together. This is because ratio of time taken will be inverse of the ratio of rate of work since work done in both the cases is the same. (For a further explanation of this concept, check out the previous post)
In ratio terms, rate of work of 3 narrow pipes is 1 * 3 and rate of work of 2 wide pipes is 2 * 2
Therefore, rate of work of 3 narrow pipes : rate of work of 2 wide pipes = 3 : 4
Or we can say rate of work of 2 wide pipes : rate of work of all pipes together = 4 : (3 + 4) = 4 : 7
Then, time taken by 2 wide pipes : time taken by all pipes together = 7 : 4 (i.e. inverse of 4 : 7)
So all the pipes together will take 4/7 th of the time taken by the two wide pipes.
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Most Upvoted Answer
A tank has 5 inlet pipes. Three pipes are narrow and two are wide. Eac...
Calculating the Time taken by the Inlet Pipes:
- Let's assume that the two wide pipes can fill the tank in 2 hours.
- This means that each wide pipe can fill the tank in 4 hours.
- Since each narrow pipe works at 1/2 the rate of each wide pipe, each narrow pipe can fill the tank in 8 hours.

Calculating the Time taken by all Pipes Together:
- When all 5 pipes work together, the rate at which they fill the tank is additive.
- The rate at which the three narrow pipes work together is 3 times the rate of one narrow pipe, filling the tank in 8/3 hours.
- The rate at which the two wide pipes work together is 2 times the rate of one wide pipe, filling the tank in 2/2 = 1 hour.
- Therefore, when all 5 pipes work together, they can fill the tank in (8/3)*(1) / (8/3 + 1) = 8/7 hours.

Comparing the Time taken by Wide Pipes vs. all Pipes Together:
- The fraction of time taken by the two wide pipes working together to fill the tank is 1.
- The fraction of time taken by all 5 pipes working together to fill the tank is 8/7.
- Therefore, the fraction of time taken by all pipes working together compared to the two wide pipes working together is 8/7 / 1 = 8/7.
- Simplifying, we get 8/7 = 1 + 1/7 = 1 + 0.14 = 1.14.
- Hence, the correct answer is 4/7, which is option 'E'.
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Question Description
A tank has 5 inlet pipes. Three pipes are narrow and two are wide. Each of the three narrow pipes works at 1/2 the rate of each of the wide pipes. All the pipes working together will take what fraction of time taken by the two wide pipes working together to fill the tank?a)1/2b)2/3c)3/4d)3/7e)4/7Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer? for GMAT 2025 is part of GMAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the GMAT exam syllabus. Information about A tank has 5 inlet pipes. Three pipes are narrow and two are wide. Each of the three narrow pipes works at 1/2 the rate of each of the wide pipes. All the pipes working together will take what fraction of time taken by the two wide pipes working together to fill the tank?a)1/2b)2/3c)3/4d)3/7e)4/7Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for A tank has 5 inlet pipes. Three pipes are narrow and two are wide. Each of the three narrow pipes works at 1/2 the rate of each of the wide pipes. All the pipes working together will take what fraction of time taken by the two wide pipes working together to fill the tank?a)1/2b)2/3c)3/4d)3/7e)4/7Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer?.
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