Events & Promotions
|
|
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
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Aug 2610:00 AM EDT
-11:59 PM EDT
Save up to $1,000 on select GMAT prep now. This Fall, achieve your most ambitious goals with millions of student success stories behind you.
Aug 2710:00 AM EDT
-11:00 AM EDT
We’ve worked incredibly hard to build TTP into the best test prep experience possible, and it would mean a lot to us to win Newsweek’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Test Prep. If TTP has helped you, we’d be incredibly grateful for your vote.
Aug 3110:00 AM PDT
-11:00 AM EDT
Top Scores Start with a Elite Online Prep Course. Enroll for 6 months of access to over 400 hours of GMAT video lessons AND 715+ Score Guarantee!
Sep 0907:00 AM PDT
-10:00 AM PDT
Meet AdComs and explore top Master’s programs - MiM, MiF, MSc, MSBA and more. - Application Fee Waivers - Free 1-Week of GMAT Club Tests: - Master's Application Toolkit - Grand Prize Giveaway
11 Mar 2026, 03:45
Kudos
Bookmarks
Three machines, working at the same constant rate, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, started working together to complete a task in a certain number of days. However, the machines were turned off for a few days, causing the task to be completed 4 days later than originally planned. The first machine, Alpha, was turned off for 3 more days than Beta, and Beta was turned off for 3 more days than Gamma. How many days was Gamma turned off?
A. 1 day
B. 2 days
C. 3 days
D. 4 days
E. 5 days
A. 1 day
B. 2 days
C. 3 days
D. 4 days
E. 5 days
11 Mar 2026, 03:45
Kudos
Bookmarks
Official Solution:
Three machines, working at the same constant rate, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, started working together to complete a task in a certain number of days. However, the machines were turned off for a few days, causing the task to be completed 4 days later than originally planned. The first machine, Alpha, was turned off for 3 more days than Beta, and Beta was turned off for 3 more days than Gamma. How many days was Gamma turned off?
A. 1 day
B. 2 days
C. 3 days
D. 4 days
E. 5 days
Let the originally planned time be \(N\) days.
Let each machine’s rate be \(r\) jobs per day.
Planned total work \(= 3 * r * N\).
Let the total off days be:
Alpha \(= A\).
Beta \(= B\).
Gamma \(= C\).
Actual completion time is \(N + 4\) days, so actual work done is:
\(r * ((N + 4 - A) + (N + 4 - B) + (N + 4 - C))\).
\(= r * (3(N + 4) - (A + B + C))\).
Set actual work equal to planned work:
\(3 * r * N = r * (3(N + 4) - (A + B + C))\).
\(3N = 3(N + 4) - (A + B + C)\).
\(A + B + C = 12\).
Given:
\(A = B + 3\).
\(B = C + 3\).
So \(A = C + 6\).
Then:
\(A + B + C = (C + 6) + (C + 3) + C = 3C + 9 = 12\).
\(C = 1\).
Answer: A
Three machines, working at the same constant rate, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, started working together to complete a task in a certain number of days. However, the machines were turned off for a few days, causing the task to be completed 4 days later than originally planned. The first machine, Alpha, was turned off for 3 more days than Beta, and Beta was turned off for 3 more days than Gamma. How many days was Gamma turned off?
A. 1 day
B. 2 days
C. 3 days
D. 4 days
E. 5 days
Let the originally planned time be \(N\) days.
Let each machine’s rate be \(r\) jobs per day.
Planned total work \(= 3 * r * N\).
Let the total off days be:
Alpha \(= A\).
Beta \(= B\).
Gamma \(= C\).
Actual completion time is \(N + 4\) days, so actual work done is:
\(r * ((N + 4 - A) + (N + 4 - B) + (N + 4 - C))\).
\(= r * (3(N + 4) - (A + B + C))\).
Set actual work equal to planned work:
\(3 * r * N = r * (3(N + 4) - (A + B + C))\).
\(3N = 3(N + 4) - (A + B + C)\).
\(A + B + C = 12\).
Given:
\(A = B + 3\).
\(B = C + 3\).
So \(A = C + 6\).
Then:
\(A + B + C = (C + 6) + (C + 3) + C = 3C + 9 = 12\).
\(C = 1\).
Answer: A
05 Jul 2026, 01:18
Kudos
Bookmarks
Let's say each machine has a constant work rate of 1 unit of work per day.
Since there are 3 machines, when all three are running, they complete 3 units of work per day.
Let g be the number of days Gamma was turned off. Using the relationships given in the problem, we can express the downtime for all three machines:
Because the machines were turned off, the project suffered a deficit in work. We know the task took 4 days longer to complete.
To finish the job in those extra 4 days, the machines had to put in extra time. During those final 4 days, all three machines were back online working together.
Work done in extra days = 4 times 3 = 12 units of work
This means the total amount of work lost due to the machines being turned off must equal exactly 12 units.
Lost Work = (Alpha's downtime X 1) + (Beta's downtime X 1) + (Gamma's downtime X 1)
12 = (g + 6) + (g + 3) + g
g = 1
Since there are 3 machines, when all three are running, they complete 3 units of work per day.
Let g be the number of days Gamma was turned off. Using the relationships given in the problem, we can express the downtime for all three machines:
- Gamma was turned off for: g days
- Beta was turned off for: g + 3 days
- Alpha was turned off for: (g + 3) + 3 = g + 6 days
Because the machines were turned off, the project suffered a deficit in work. We know the task took 4 days longer to complete.
To finish the job in those extra 4 days, the machines had to put in extra time. During those final 4 days, all three machines were back online working together.
Work done in extra days = 4 times 3 = 12 units of work
This means the total amount of work lost due to the machines being turned off must equal exactly 12 units.
Lost Work = (Alpha's downtime X 1) + (Beta's downtime X 1) + (Gamma's downtime X 1)
12 = (g + 6) + (g + 3) + g
g = 1
