Last visit was: 16 Jul 2025, 17:06 It is currently 16 Jul 2025, 17:06
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
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 16 Jul 2025
Posts: 102,594
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 98,202
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 102,594
Kudos: 741,981
 [13]
Kudos
Add Kudos
13
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
EgmatQuantExpert
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Last visit: 02 Apr 2024
Posts: 3,681
Own Kudos:
19,465
 [5]
Given Kudos: 165
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,681
Kudos: 19,465
 [5]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Mohammadmo
Joined: 29 Jun 2019
Last visit: 03 Nov 2022
Posts: 348
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 16
Posts: 348
Kudos: 234
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
EgmatQuantExpert
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Last visit: 02 Apr 2024
Posts: 3,681
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 165
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,681
Kudos: 19,465
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Mohammadmo
If they both work together, it takes 2 hours and 24 minutes to finish the job.
(1/4+1/6)×X= 1
==》 X= 24/10=2.4= 2 hours and 24 minutes.
But they finished at 2h and 30m.
So, the break time has been 6 minutes or 240 seconds.
Option (D)

Posted from my mobile device

Hi Mohammadmo,

There is a mistake in your approach. You have assumed that Linda also didn't work during the break time, but that is not the situation in this question.

We have posted our solution, please refer to it.

Regards,
e-GMAT
User avatar
Archit3110
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Last visit: 16 July 2025
Posts: 8,349
Own Kudos:
4,829
 [1]
Given Kudos: 243
Status:You learn more from failure than from success.
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Energy)
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
Posts: 8,349
Kudos: 4,829
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Linda takes 4 hours to do a job, whereas Bob takes 6 hours to do the same job. They worked together at their respective rates but Bob took two breaks of equal duration during the time. Despite that, the two of them were able to complete the job in 2 hours 30 minutes. What is the duration of each break that Bob took. ?

(A) 60 seconds
(B) 90 seconds
(C) 450 seconds
(D) 240 seconds
(E) 270 seconds

Rate of Linda ; 1/4 and rate of Bob ; 1/6
let total work done = 1
and break of bob = x
given total time of work ; 2 hrs 30 mins or say 2 .5 hrs
since w=r*t
we can say
(2.5-b)*(10/24)+b*1/4 = 1
solve for b = 900 sec
each break = 900/2 ; 450 sec
IMO C
User avatar
TheNightKing
Joined: 18 Dec 2017
Last visit: 20 Mar 2024
Posts: 1,139
Own Kudos:
1,226
 [2]
Given Kudos: 421
Location: United States (KS)
GMAT 1: 600 Q46 V27
GMAT 1: 600 Q46 V27
Posts: 1,139
Kudos: 1,226
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Linda takes 4 hours to do a job, whereas Bob takes 6 hours to do the same job. They worked together at their respective rates but Bob took two breaks of equal duration during the time. Despite that, the two of them were able to complete the job in 2 hours 30 minutes. What is the duration of each break that Bob took. ?

(A) 60 seconds
(B) 90 seconds
(C) 450 seconds
(D) 240 seconds
(E) 270 seconds

My Approach.
Assume work to be 24 Units (Because LCM)
Linda does 6 units and Bob does 4 units each hour to achieve 24 units of work.
If they are working together, Linda does 15 units of work in 2.5 hours and Bob should have done 10 units of work. (should because we know he took a break).
So basically he did one unit of work less of his own capacity for which he takes (15 minutes). and since that is 2 breaks of equal time, the break time is 7.5 minutes each.

Kudos if you feel like :angel:
User avatar
Rajat1998
Joined: 14 Oct 2018
Last visit: 12 Feb 2020
Posts: 14
Own Kudos:
45
 [2]
Given Kudos: 8
Posts: 14
Kudos: 45
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Let me give you guys a simpler way to solve it.

Linda's rate= 1/4
Bob's rate= 1/6

Its only bob who took break, not linda and they both completed the work in 2.5 hrs

Work done by linda= 2.5 * 1/4 = 25/40

Work to be done by bob= 15/40

Time * 1/6 = 15/40
Time taken by bob to complete his share= 9/4 hrs (2 hrs 15 mins)

Hence, duration of two breaks is 15 mins.
Duration of 1 break in seconds= 15*1/2*60= 450 seconds.

IMO C

I don't know what kudos does but since everyone asks for it, hit one for me too. ?

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
rishab0507
Joined: 12 Mar 2019
Last visit: 25 Feb 2021
Posts: 181
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105
Posts: 181
Kudos: 106
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
TheNightKing
Bunuel
Linda takes 4 hours to do a job, whereas Bob takes 6 hours to do the same job. They worked together at their respective rates but Bob took two breaks of equal duration during the time. Despite that, the two of them were able to complete the job in 2 hours 30 minutes. What is the duration of each break that Bob took. ?

(A) 60 seconds
(B) 90 seconds
(C) 450 seconds
(D) 240 seconds
(E) 270 seconds

My Approach.
Assume work to be 24 Units (Because LCM)
Linda does 6 units and Bob does 4 units each hour to achieve 24 units of work.
If they are working together, Linda does 15 units of work in 2.5 hours and Bob should have done 10 units of work. (should because we know he took a break).
So basically he did one unit of work less of his own capacity for which he takes (15 minutes). and since that is 2 breaks of equal time, the break time is 7.5 minutes each.

Kudos if you feel like :angel:

I also use LCM method to solve problem , but i am stuck after finding bob 10 unit of work.
Not able to understand this from your solution, Can you please make it more clear, how you came to 15 : (divide by 2 is clear)
" So basically he did one unit of work less of his own capacity for which he takes (15 minutes). and since that is 2 breaks of equal time, the break time is 7.5 minutes each. "
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 37,422
Own Kudos:
Posts: 37,422
Kudos: 1,013
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
Math Expert
102594 posts
PS Forum Moderator
697 posts