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Q57·CSAT · Prelims 2022

Time and work problem lacking sufficient gender-efficiency data

NumericalTime & WorkFactual singleMedium

Question

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?

Options

a

30 days

b

More than 30 days

c

Less than 30 days or more than 30 days

d

Data is inadequate to draw any conclusion

Answer

Explanation

We are given a single work equation: 24M + 12W = 1/30 of the work per day. We need to evaluate the time for a second configuration: 12M + 24W = ?

Notice that the variables have swapped coefficients, but we are provided absolutely no information regarding the relative efficiency ratio between a man and a woman.

If men are faster workers than women (M > W), shifting the workforce to have fewer men (from 24 down to 12) will increase the time taken (> 30 days).
If women are faster workers than men (W > M), shifting to have more women will decrease the time taken (< 30 days).

Because either scenario is mathematically possible depending on the unknown efficiency ratio, the problem cannot be solved.

A single algebraic equation containing two unknown variables (A and B) cannot be solved for a second unique linear combination without an explicit ratio connecting them.

Answer: (d).

Question details

Year

2022

Paper

CSAT

Question

Q57

Section

Numerical Ability

Sub-topic

Time & Work

Type

Factual single

Difficulty

Medium

Source hint

24 men and 12 women can do a piece of work

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