This page has 60 Time and Work questions for practice. The questions focus on work rate and efficiency. You will also get problems with combined work and pipes & cisterns. Each question has a clear answer and explanation. Use this set to build speed and avoid silly calculation mistakes.
For other aptitude topics, see: aptitude question and answers.
Time and Work Formulas
The basic idea
If a man finishes a work in n days, his one day work = 1 ÷ n
If a man does 1 ÷ n of the work in a day, he finishes it in n days
Work done = Number of days × One day work
Working together
If A takes a days and B takes b days, then together their one day work = 1 ÷ a + 1 ÷ b
Time taken together = ab ÷ (a + b)
For three people, Time taken together = abc ÷ (ab + bc + ca)
The LCM method, use this instead of fractions
Take the total work as the LCM of all the days given.
Each person’s daily work = Total work ÷ His number of days.
Add or subtract those whole numbers as the question needs, then Time = Total work ÷ Combined daily work.
If A takes 12 days and B takes 18, take the work as 36 units. A does 3 a day, B does 2, together 5, so they finish in 36 ÷ 5 = 7.2 days.
When one person leaves or joins in between
Calculate the work done in the days they were together, subtract it from the total, and divide the balance by the daily work of whoever is left.
Use the LCM method here or the fractions will bury you.
Efficiency
Efficiency and time are always inverse.
If A is twice as efficient as B, A takes half the time B takes.
If the efficiency ratio of A and B is x : y, their time ratio is y : x.
Efficiency in percentage = (1 ÷ Number of days) × 100
The men, days and hours formula
(M₁ × D₁ × H₁) ÷ W₁ = (M₂ × D₂ × H₂) ÷ W₂
Where M = men, D = days, H = hours per day, W = work done.
Drop whatever the question does not mention.
The relations you must know
Men and days: inverse
Men and work: direct
Days and work: direct
Hours per day and days: inverse
Wages
Wages are shared in the ratio of the work done, which is the same as the inverse ratio of the days taken.
So if A takes 6 days and B takes 12, their work ratio is 2 : 1 and the wages split in the same 2 : 1.
60 Time and Work Aptitude Questions and Answers
Time and Work Aptitude Test: Rate Fundamentals (20 MCQ Questions)
Question 1. A can do a work in 12 days working 8 hours/day. B can do the same work in 16 days working 6 hours/day. If both work together 6 hours/day, in how many days will the work be completed?
a) 6 days
b) 7 days
c) 8 days
d) 9 days
Answer:
b) 7 days
Question 2. A and B together can finish a work in 10 days. A alone can finish it in 15 days. In how many days can B alone finish the work?
a) 20
b) 25
c) 30
d) 35
Answer:
c) 30
Question 3. A can complete a work in 18 days. B is 50% more efficient than A. In how many days will B complete the same work?
a) 10
b) 12
c) 14
d) 15
Answer:
b) 12
Question 4. A does a work in 24 days. B does it in 36 days. They work together for 6 days, then A leaves. How many more days will B take to finish the remaining work?
a) 18
b) 20
c) 21
d) 24
Answer:
c) 21
Question 5. A can do a work in 20 days and B in 30 days. They work together but B leaves after 8 days. In how many days will A finish the remaining work?
a) 8
b) 9
c) 10
d) 12
Answer:
b) 9
Question 6. A can complete 3/4 of a work in 15 days. How many days will A take to complete the full work (same rate)?
a) 18
b) 19
c) 20
d) 21
Answer:
a) 20
Question 7. A can do a work in 25 days. B can do the same work in 20 days. If they work together for 5 days, what fraction of work remains?
a) 1/2
b) 3/5
c) 2/3
d) 7/10
Answer:
b) 3/5
Question 8. A can do a work in 12 days. B can do it in 18 days. They work together for 4 days. Then B works alone. How many total days will it take to complete the work?
a) 8
b) 9
c) 10
d) 11
Answer:
c) 10
Question 9. A can do a work in 10 days. B can do it in 15 days. If A works 4 hours/day and B works 6 hours/day, and both start together, in how many days will they finish? (Assume equal efficiency per hour.)
a) 6
b) 7
c) 8
d) 9
Answer:
b) 7
Question 10. A and B can complete a work in 8 days. B and C can complete it in 12 days. A and C can complete it in 10 days. In how many days can A, B and C together complete the work?
a) 4
b) 5
c) 6
d) 7
Answer:
b) 5
Question 11. A can do a work in 16 days. B can do it in 24 days. If they work together for 6 days, how many days will A alone take to finish the remaining work?
a) 4
b) 5
c) 6
d) 7
Answer:
c) 6
Question 12. A is twice as efficient as B. Together they complete a work in 9 days. In how many days can A alone complete the work?
a) 12
b) 13.5
c) 15
d) 18
Answer:
b) 13.5
Question 13. A can do a work in 30 days. B can do it in 45 days. They work together for 10 days. What percentage of work is left?
a) 40%
b) 45%
c) 50%
d) 55%
Answer:
b) 45%
Question 14. A can do a work in 14 days. B can do it in 21 days. If B joins A after 4 days, how many total days will be taken to finish the work?
a) 9
b) 10
c) 11
d) 12
Answer:
b) 10
Question 15. A and B together can do a work in 6 days. A alone can do it in 10 days. If both work together for 2 days and then A leaves, in how many days will B finish the remaining work?
a) 4
b) 5
c) 6
d) 7
Answer:
c) 6
Question 16. A can do a work in 9 days. B can do it in 12 days. If they work on alternate days starting with A, in how many days will the work be completed?
a) 10
b) 11
c) 12
d) 13
Answer:
b) 11
Question 17. A completes a work in 20 days. B completes it in 25 days. They work together for 5 days. Then A works alone for 3 days. What fraction of work is completed?
a) 1/2
b) 3/5
c) 2/3
d) 7/10
Answer:
b) 3/5
Question 18. A can do a work in 15 days. B can do it in 20 days. If they work together for 3 days and then B leaves, in how many more days will A finish the work?
a) 7
b) 8
c) 9
d) 10
Answer:
c) 9
Question 19. A is 25% less efficient than B. B can do a work in 12 days. In how many days can A do the work?
a) 14
b) 15
c) 16
d) 18
Answer:
c) 16
Question 20. A can do a work in 18 days and B in 24 days. If both work together for 6 days and then both leave, and C finishes the remaining work in 6 days, in how many days can C alone do the entire work?
a) 14
b) 16
c) 18
d) 20
Answer:
b) 16
Time and Work Aptitude Test: Variable Workforce & Schedules (20 MCQ Questions)
Question 21. 12 men can complete a work in 15 days. After 5 days, 4 men leave. How many more days will the remaining men take to complete the work?
a) 12
b) 13
c) 14
d) 15
Answer:
b) 13
Question 22. 18 workers can finish a work in 20 days. After 8 days, 6 more workers join. How many total days will be taken to finish the work?
a) 14
b) 15
c) 16
d) 17
Answer:
c) 16
Question 23. A and B work together for 4 days and complete 40% of a job. Then B leaves and A alone completes the remaining job in 9 days. In how many days can A alone complete the whole job?
a) 12
b) 14
c) 15
d) 18
Answer:
c) 15
Question 24. 10 men can do a work in 12 days. 15 women can do the same work in 16 days. How many days will 5 men and 10 women take to complete the work together?
a) 8
b) 9
c) 10
d) 11
Answer:
b) 9
Question 25. A works alone for 6 days and completes 30% of the work. Then B joins and both finish the work in 8 more days. In how many days can B alone complete the whole work?
a) 16
b) 18
c) 20
d) 24
Answer:
c) 20
Question 26. 24 men can complete a work in 18 days. After 6 days, 6 men leave and 6 boys join. If 2 boys = 1 man, how many more days will the work take to complete?
a) 12
b) 13
c) 14
d) 15
Answer:
c) 14
Question 27. A team of 8 workers completes a work in 30 days. Due to holidays, they work only 5 days a week. How many calendar days will they take to complete the work?
a) 40
b) 41
c) 42
d) 43
Answer:
c) 42
Question 28. A and B can do a job together in 12 days. They work together for 5 days. Then B doubles his efficiency and completes the remaining work alone. In how many more days will the work be finished?
a) 4
b) 5
c) 6
d) 7
Answer:
b) 5
Question 29. A can complete a job in 24 days. B can complete it in 36 days. They work together, but A works only on odd days and B works only on even days. In how many days will the job finish?
a) 24
b) 25
c) 26
d) 27
Answer:
b) 25
Question 30. 6 men can do a work in 18 days. 9 boys can do the same work in 24 days. How many days will 4 men and 6 boys take to complete the work?
a) 10
b) 11
c) 12
d) 13
Answer:
c) 12
Question 31. A, B and C can complete a work in 6, 8 and 12 days respectively. They start together but A leaves after 2 days and B leaves after 3 days. How many more days will C take to finish the remaining work?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
Answer:
c) 3
Question 32. 20 workers complete 60% of a work in 12 days. How many additional workers are needed to finish the remaining work in 6 days?
a) 10
b) 15
c) 20
d) 25
Answer:
c) 20
Question 33. A can do a work in 16 days and B in 24 days. They work together for 4 days. Then A leaves. B works 2 days, then rests 1 day (repeats). How many more calendar days will it take to finish the work?
a) 16
b) 18
c) 20
d) 22
Answer:
b) 18
Question 34. 15 men can finish a work in 20 days. After 8 days, 5 men leave and 10 men join. How many total days will it take to finish the work?
a) 14
b) 15
c) 16
d) 18
Answer:
c) 16
Question 35. A and B can do a work in 10 days and 15 days respectively. They work together for 4 days. Then they decide to work in the ratio of their efficiencies (A:B) each day for the remaining work. In how many more days will the work be completed?
a) 3
b) 4
c) 5
d) 6
Answer:
b) 4
Question 36. 30 men can do a work in 12 days. After 4 days, 10 men are replaced by 20 women. If 3 women = 2 men, how many total days will it take to complete the work?
a) 12
b) 13
c) 14
d) 15
Answer:
c) 14
Question 37. A can complete a work in 18 days. B can complete it in 27 days. A works every day but B works only on weekends (2 days per week). If they start together, in how many days will the work be completed?
a) 14
b) 15
c) 16
d) 17
Answer:
d) 17
Question 38. A and B together finish a work in 8 days. If A works for 2 days, then B works for 2 days, and so on, the work finishes in 12 days. In how many days can A alone do the work?
a) 10
b) 12
c) 14
d) 16
Answer:
c) 14
Question 39. 8 machines can produce a batch in 15 days. After 6 days, 2 machines break down. How many more days will it take to finish the batch?
a) 10
b) 11
c) 12
d) 13
Answer:
b) 11
Question 40. A and B together can do a work in 9 days. B and C together can do it in 12 days. A works alone for 3 days, then B and C together finish the remaining work in 6 days. In how many days can A alone complete the work?
a) 15
b) 18
c) 20
d) 24
Answer:
b) 18
Time and Work Aptitude Test: Advanced Multi-Constraint Word Problems (20 MCQ Questions)
Question 41. A is 40% more efficient than B. B is 25% less efficient than C. If A and C together can complete a work in 10 days, in how many days can B alone complete the work?
a) 18
b) 20
c) 22
d) 24
Answer:
c) 22
Question 42. A, B and C together can complete a work in 8 days. A and B together can complete it in 12 days. B and C together can complete it in 16 days. In how many days can A alone complete the work?
a) 18
b) 20
c) 24
d) 28
Answer:
b) 20
Question 43. A can do a work in 20 days. B can do the same work in 25 days. They worked together for some days and completed 60% of the work. If B worked 2 days more than A, how many days did A work?
a) 6
b) 7
c) 8
d) 9
Answer:
c) 8
Question 44. 12 men can complete a work in 18 days. 8 women can complete it in 27 days. If 3 men = 5 women, how many days will 6 men and 10 women take to complete the work?
a) 12
b) 13
c) 14
d) 15
Answer:
b) 13
Question 45. A can do a work in 16 days. B can do it in 24 days. They start together. After 4 days, A’s efficiency reduces by 25%. In how many total days will the work be completed?
a) 10
b) 11
c) 12
d) 13
Answer:
c) 12
Question 46. A contractor hired 24 men to finish a work in 15 days. After 5 days, he realized only 1/3 of the work is done. How many additional men (same efficiency) must be hired to finish the remaining work in the remaining days?
a) 12
b) 18
c) 24
d) 30
Answer:
c) 24
Question 47. A and B can do a work in 18 days and 24 days respectively. They work together for 6 days. Then A leaves. B completes the remaining work but takes 2 days off after every 3 working days. How many total days will the work take?
a) 16
b) 17
c) 18
d) 19
Answer:
d) 19
Question 48. A and B can complete a work in 12 days. If A alone is 50% more efficient than B, in how many days can A alone complete the work?
a) 18
b) 20
c) 24
d) 30
Answer:
b) 20
Question 49. A can complete a work in 30 days. B can complete it in 45 days. C can complete it in 90 days. They work together for 6 days. Then B leaves and C’s efficiency doubles. How many more days will it take to finish the remaining work?
a) 10
b) 11
c) 12
d) 13
Answer:
b) 11
Question 50. A and B together can finish a work in 8 days. B and C together can finish it in 10 days. A is twice as efficient as C. In how many days can A alone finish the work?
a) 12
b) 14
c) 16
d) 18
Answer:
c) 16
Question 51. A can do a work in 15 days working 6 hours/day. B can do it in 12 days working 5 hours/day. If both work together 4 hours/day, in how many days will the work finish?
a) 7
b) 8
c) 9
d) 10
Answer:
c) 9
Question 52. A and B complete a work in 6 days. If A is 20% more efficient than B, in how many days can B alone complete the work?
a) 10
b) 11
c) 12
d) 13
Answer:
b) 11
Question 53. A can do a work in 12 days and B in 18 days. They start together. After 3 days, B leaves and C joins. C is 25% less efficient than A. In how many total days will the work be completed?
a) 9
b) 10
c) 11
d) 12
Answer:
b) 10
Question 54. A alone can do a work in 20 days. B alone can do it in 30 days. They work on alternate days starting with A. After 12 days, what fraction of work remains?
a) 1/10
b) 1/12
c) 1/15
d) 1/20
Answer:
a) 1/10
Question 55. A and B together can do a work in 14 days. If A is 40% more efficient than B, in how many days can A alone do the work?
a) 20
b) 21
c) 22
d) 24
Answer:
b) 21
Question 56. A does 1/3 of a work in 5 days and B does 1/4 of the same work in 6 days. If they work together, in how many days will they finish the remaining work after completing 1/2 of the work together first?
a) 3
b) 4
c) 5
d) 6
Answer:
b) 4
Question 57. A and B can do a work in 9 days. B and C can do it in 12 days. A and C can do it in 15 days. If A works for 2 days, then B for 2 days, then C for 2 days (cycle repeats), in how many days will the work be completed?
a) 10
b) 12
c) 14
d) 16
Answer:
c) 14
Question 58. 16 men can complete a work in 25 days. After 10 days, 4 men leave. Also, efficiency of remaining men reduces by 20%. In how many more days will the remaining work be completed?
a) 18
b) 19
c) 20
d) 21
Answer:
d) 21
Question 59. A and B together can do a work in 10 days. If A alone takes 6 days more than B alone to finish the same work, in how many days can A alone finish the work?
a) 12
b) 14
c) 15
d) 16
Answer:
b) 15
Question 60. A contractor plans to finish a work in 24 days with 18 men. After working 8 days, only 1/4 of the work is completed. If he increases the workforce by x men to finish the work in time, what is x?
a) 12
b) 18
c) 24
d) 30
Answer:
c) 24
Aptitude Questions and Answers for other topics
| Number system and series | ||
|---|---|---|
| HCF and LCM | Simplification | Number Series |
| Interest and commercial maths | ||
| Percentage | Profit and Loss | Compound Interest |
| Partnership | ||
| Ratio, average and mixture | ||
| Ratio and Proportion | Alligation or Mixture | Problems on Ages |
| Speed, time and distance | ||
| Time and Distance | Problems on Trains | Boats and Streams |
| Work and rate | ||
| Time and Work | Pipes and Cistern | |
| Mensuration | ||
| Volume and Surface Area | Height and Distance | |
| Permutation and probability | ||
| Permutation and Combination | Probability | |
| Calendar and clock | ||
| Calendar | Clock | |
