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# At their respective rates, pump A, B, and C can fulfill an

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At their respective rates, pump A, B, and C can fulfill an [#permalink]  02 Apr 2009, 19:12
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At their respective rates, pump A, B, and C can fulfill an empty tank, or pump-out the full tank in 2, 3, and 6 hours. If A and B are used to pump-out water from the half-full tank, while C is used to fill water into the tank, in how many hours, the tank will be empty?

A. 2/3
B. 1
C. 3/4
D. 3/2
E. 2
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

Last edited by Bunuel on 29 Sep 2013, 08:37, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
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Re: PS: Pool fills [#permalink]  03 Apr 2009, 06:51
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Economist wrote:
At their respective rates, pump A, B, and C can fulfill an empty tank, or pump-out the full tank in 2, 3, and 6 hours. If A and B are used to pump-out water from the half-full tank, while C is used to fill water into the tank, in how many hours, the tank will be empty?
A. 2/3
B. 1
C. 3/4
D. 3/2
E. 2

You can use a rates formula here, or convert each worker to the same amount of time (6 hours) :

A empties 3 tanks every 6 hours
B empties 2 tanks every 6 hours
C fills 1 tank every 6 hours
Together, they empty 4 tanks every 6 hours
So they empty 1 tank every 6/4 hours, and empty half of a tank in 3/4 hours. C.
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Re: PS: Pool fills [#permalink]  16 Aug 2009, 11:09
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12.At their respective rates, pump A, B, and C can fulfill an empty tank, or pump-out the full tank in 2, 3, and 6 hours. If A and B are used to pump-out water from the half-full tank, while C is used to fill water into the tank, in how many hours, the tank will be empty?
A. 2/3
B. 1
C. 3/4
D. 3/2
E. 2

let X = # of hours for the tank to empty

X*Rate A + X*Rate B - X*Rate C = 1/2 tank

X*(1/2) + X*(1/3) - X*(1/6) = 1/2
X = 3/4

It takes 3/4 hrs to empty the tank

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Re: PS: Pool fills [#permalink]  17 Aug 2009, 21:46
IanStewart wrote:
You can use a rates formula here, or convert each worker to the same amount of time (6 hours) :

A empties 3 tanks every 6 hours
B empties 2 tanks every 6 hours
C fills 1 tank every 6 hours
Together, they empty 4 tanks every 6 hours
So they empty 1 tank every 6/4 hours, and empty half of a tank in 3/4 hours. C.

that looks so simple and easy.. thanks Ian.
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Re: PS: Pool fills [#permalink]  17 Aug 2009, 22:17
Quote:
You can use a rates formula here, or convert each worker to the same amount of time (6 hours) :

A empties 3 tanks every 6 hours
B empties 2 tanks every 6 hours
C fills 1 tank every 6 hours
Together, they empty 4 tanks every 6 hours
So they empty 1 tank every 6/4 hours, and empty half of a tank in 3/4 hours. C.

Good job Ian. You made it all simple.
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Re: PS: Pool fills [#permalink]  24 Aug 2009, 22:30
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Effective rate(empty) : 1/2+1/3-1/6 = 4/6 = 2/3

So whole tank will be emptied in 3/2 hrs..and half will be in 3/4 hrs. C...
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Re: PS: Pool fills [#permalink]  28 Sep 2013, 09:53
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Rate(A)=1/2
Rate(B)=1/3
Rate(C)=1/6

A + B - C

1/2 + 1/3 - 1/6 = 4/6 (Combined rate per the question)

Rate * Time = Work

4/6 * Time = 1/2

Time = 3/4
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Re: PS: Pool fills [#permalink]  11 Oct 2013, 23:14
TGC wrote:
Rate(A)=1/2
Rate(B)=1/3
Rate(C)=1/6

A + B - C

1/2 + 1/3 - 1/6 = 4/6 (Combined rate per the question)

Rate * Time = Work

4/6 * Time = 1/2

Time = 3/4

Hi,

I could understand this method.
But my doubt is
Work = Rate * time
Time = Work / Rate

So as per this problem
Rate(A)=1/2
Rate(B)=1/3
Rate(C)=1/6

So total time is:
(1/2)/(1/2) + (1/2) / (1/3) - (1/2) / (1/6) = -1/2

thanks,
Rrsnathan.
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Re: PS: Pool fills [#permalink]  17 Oct 2013, 02:53
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rrsnathan wrote:
TGC wrote:
Rate(A)=1/2
Rate(B)=1/3
Rate(C)=1/6

A + B - C

1/2 + 1/3 - 1/6 = 4/6 (Combined rate per the question)

Rate * Time = Work

4/6 * Time = 1/2

Time = 3/4

Hi,

I could understand this method.
But my doubt is
Work = Rate * time
Time = Work / Rate

So as per this problem
Rate(A)=1/2
Rate(B)=1/3
Rate(C)=1/6

So total time is:
(1/2)/(1/2) + (1/2) / (1/3) - (1/2) / (1/6) = -1/2

thanks,
Rrsnathan.

When adding rates you get combined rate not time. Also, why are you multiplying combined rate by 1/2?

At their respective rates, pump A, B, and C can fulfill an empty tank, or pump-out the full tank in 2, 3, and 6 hours. If A and B are used to pump-out water from the half-full tank, while C is used to fill water into the tank, in how many hours, the tank will be empty?
A. 2/3
B. 1
C. 3/4
D. 3/2
E. 2

Rate of A = 1/2 tank/hour;
Rate of B = 1/3 tank/hour;
Rate of C = 1/6 tank/hour.

Combined rate when A and B are used to pump-out water, while C is used to fill water into the tank is 1/2+1/3-1/6=2/3 tank hour.

So, to empty the full tank 3/2 hours (reciprocal of rate) are needed. To empty the half-full tank half of that time would be needed: 1/2*3/2=3/4 hours.

Hope it's clear.
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Re: At their respective rates, pump A, B, and C can fulfill an [#permalink]  26 Oct 2013, 09:08
t*[C's rate - (A's rate+B's rate)] + current tank size = 0
t*[1/6 - (1/2+1/3)] + .5 = 0
t = 3/4
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Re: At their respective rates, pump A, B, and C can fulfill an [#permalink]  04 Apr 2014, 01:16
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Effective rate of A, B & C respectively

$$= \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3} - \frac{1}{6}$$
(-ve as tank is getting empty)

$$= \frac{3+2-1}{6}$$

$$= \frac{4}{6}$$

$$= \frac{2}{3}$$

Time required for full tank $$= \frac{3}{2}$$

$$Time required for half tank = \frac{3}{2} * \frac{1}{2} = \frac{3}{4}$$

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Re: At their respective rates, pump A, B, and C can fulfill an [#permalink]  18 Apr 2015, 12:57
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# At their respective rates, pump A, B, and C can fulfill an

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