Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 02:10 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 02:10
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
mba9now
Joined: 18 Jul 2008
Last visit: 19 Aug 2008
Posts: 26
Own Kudos:
28
 [24]
Posts: 26
Kudos: 28
 [24]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
21
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
avatar
PareshGmat
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
Last visit: 10 Jul 2016
Posts: 1,531
Own Kudos:
8,272
 [17]
Given Kudos: 193
Status:The Best Or Nothing
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Technology
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 1,531
Kudos: 8,272
 [17]
10
Kudos
Add Kudos
7
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
x2suresh
Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Last visit: 18 Aug 2012
Posts: 711
Own Kudos:
3,148
 [5]
Given Kudos: 5
Location: New York
Posts: 711
Kudos: 3,148
 [5]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
paneer
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Last visit: 14 Sep 2022
Posts: 22
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 22
Kudos: 136
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mba9now
It would take Computer A 36 hours to process the data. If Computer A starts working at 7 pm on Monday and after half the data is processed Computer B, three times as fast as Computer A, is joined in the task, when will the data processing be finished?


4:30 pm Tuesday
5:30 pm Tuesday
7:00 pm Tuesday
8:30 pm Tuesday
10:30 pm Tuesday

comp A takes 36h and comp B takes 12h

comp A starts at 7pm on monday, processes half the data so it finishes at 7pm+(36/2)h which is 1pm on tuesday. Comp B takes up the next half so it finishes at 1pm+(12/2)h=7pm on Tuesday
avatar
goelr
Joined: 06 Aug 2008
Last visit: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 2
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The answer is B (5:30 PM Tuesday). Becasue it is said that Comp B joins A, never says only B did the work alone.
User avatar
spriya
Joined: 17 Jun 2008
Last visit: 18 Nov 2010
Posts: 615
Own Kudos:
3,092
 [3]
Posts: 615
Kudos: 3,092
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mba9now
It would take Computer A 36 hours to process the data. If Computer A starts working at 7 pm on Monday and after half the data is processed Computer B, three times as fast as Computer A, is joined in the task, when will the data processing be finished?


4:30 pm Tuesday
5:30 pm Tuesday
7:00 pm Tuesday
8:30 pm Tuesday
10:30 pm Tuesday

work done by A in one hr = w/36
by B in 1 hr=w/12
by both in 1 hr=w/12 + w/36=w/9

hence half the work is already done by A in 18 hrs

half the work w/2 is to be done by both hence time talken is w/2/w/9=9/2=4.5 hrs
total time taken is 18+4.5 hrs=22.5 hrs
5.30pm tues is answer
IMO B
User avatar
nmohindru
Joined: 06 Apr 2008
Last visit: 06 Jul 2013
Posts: 156
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 156
Kudos: 488
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mba9now
It would take Computer A 36 hours to process the data. If Computer A starts working at 7 pm on Monday and after half the data is processed Computer B, three times as fast as Computer A, is joined in the task, when will the data processing be finished?


4:30 pm Tuesday
5:30 pm Tuesday
7:00 pm Tuesday
8:30 pm Tuesday
10:30 pm Tuesday

Total hrs = 18 + Hours required to do half job = 18 + (18*6)/24 = 22.5 hrs = 5:30pm Tue
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,802
Own Kudos:
810,917
 [4]
Given Kudos: 105,868
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,802
Kudos: 810,917
 [4]
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Computer A requires 36 hours to process data. If Computer A starts working at 7 pm on Monday, and Computer B, which is three times as fast as Computer A, joins in after half the data is processed, when will the data processing be complete?

A. 4:30 pm on Tuesday
B. 5:30 pm on Tuesday
C. 7:00 pm on Tuesday
D. 8:30 pm on Tuesday
E. 10:30 pm on Tuesday


Computer A will process the first half of the data in 18 hours. Computer A and Computer B working together will process the remaining half four times faster (since Computer B is three times as fast as Computer A, together they are four times as fast as Computer A alone). The entire task will require \(18 + \frac{18}{4} = 22.5\) hours, which is 1.5 hours short of the 24-hour cycle. Therefore, if the processing starts at 7 pm on Monday, it will complete at 5:30 pm on Tuesday.


Answer: B
avatar
shwetank7508
Joined: 04 May 2015
Last visit: 06 Dec 2018
Posts: 2
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 2
Kudos: 49
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A= 1/36
B= 1/12 ( Ratio is 3:1 )

A+B= 1/9

HALF WORK DONE BY A only
w=r*t
1/2 = 1/36*t
t= 18 hrs

Rest work done by A & B together

w=r*T
1/2 = 1/9*T
T= 4.5 hrs


Total Time= t+T

18+ 4.5 hrs = 22.5 hrs

Count from 7 pm Monday, answer is 5:30 pm Tuesday
avatar
neha1993
Joined: 12 Nov 2015
Last visit: 06 Feb 2017
Posts: 31
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 23
Posts: 31
Kudos: 22
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Step wise:

A: 36 hours
B: 12 hours ( 3 times faster)

after half work done: 18 hours

W/2 left: Now W work can be done by both machines in 12*36/48 = 9 hours. So, W/2 cqan be done in 4.5 hours.

Total = 22.5 hours
avatar
neha1993
Joined: 12 Nov 2015
Last visit: 06 Feb 2017
Posts: 31
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 23
Posts: 31
Kudos: 22
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
x2suresh
mba9now
It would take Computer A 36 hours to process the data. If Computer A starts working at 7 pm on Monday and after half the data is processed Computer B, three times as fast as Computer A, is joined in the task, when will the data processing be finished?


4:30 pm Tuesday
5:30 pm Tuesday
7:00 pm Tuesday
8:30 pm Tuesday
10:30 pm Tuesday

computer A take 36 hr
computer B takes 12 hr

18 hrs (half job done by computer) + Half job dont by both
= 18 hrs + 18 / (3+1) = 22.5 hrs.

B is the answer

Hey, can you please explain how did you get 18/3+1 ?
User avatar
AkshdeepS
Joined: 13 Apr 2013
Last visit: 20 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,423
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,002
Status:It's near - I can see.
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Operations
GPA: 3.01
WE:Engineering (Real Estate)
Products:
Posts: 1,423
Kudos: 1,937
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mba9now
It takes Computer A 36 hours to process data. If Computer A starts working at 7 pm on Monday and after half the data are processed Computer B, three times as fast as Computer A, joins in the task, when will the data processing be finished?

A. 4:30 pm Tuesday
B. 5:30 pm Tuesday
C. 7:00 pm Tuesday
D. 8:30 pm Tuesday
E. 10:30 pm Tuesday

M18-12

"R" stands for rate

R(A) = 1/36

Time taken to complete half the job = 18 hours

R(B) = 1/12 (given)

Job left after 18 hrs = 1/2

(Combined rate)* T = 1/2

1/36 + 1/12 * T = 1/2

1/9 * T = 1/2

T = 4.5

Total time = 18 + 4.5 = 22.5

7 p.m. Monday + 22.5 hrs

5:30 pm Tuesday

(B)
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,966
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,966
Kudos: 1,117
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109802 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts