Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 05:15 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 05:15
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: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,385
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,385
Kudos: 778,203
 [11]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
8
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
sujoykrdatta
Joined: 26 Jun 2014
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 547
Own Kudos:
1,114
 [2]
Given Kudos: 13
Status:Mentor & Coach | GMAT Q51 | CAT 99.98
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V39
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V39
Posts: 547
Kudos: 1,114
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
UsamaGuddar
Joined: 04 Sep 2020
Last visit: 30 Apr 2021
Posts: 34
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 8
Posts: 34
Kudos: 8
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,794
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 161
Location: India
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 5,794
Kudos: 5,509
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A takes thrice as much time as B to complete a piece of work.
B takes thrice as much time as C to complete the work.
C takes thrice as much time as D to complete the work.

One group of three of the four men can complete the work in 13 days while another group of three can do so in 31 days.

Which is the group that takes 13 days and which is the group that takes 31 days?

Let us assume that D takes x days to complete the work
C takes 3x days to complete the work
B takes 9x days to complete the work
A takes 27x days to complete the work

D is fastest and A is slowest.

Therefore, the group of (B,C,D) will take lowest time and the group of (A,B,C) will take highest time

Time taken by (B,C,D) to complete the work = 1/(1/9x + 1/3x + 1/x) = 9x/13
Time taken by (A,B,C) to complete the work = 1/(1/27x + 1/9x + 1/3x) = 27x/13
Time taken by (A,B,D) to complete the work = 1/(1/27x + 1/9x + 1/x) = 27x/31

If 27x/31 = 13; x = 13*31/27
27x/13 = 31

A. 13 days group = (A, B, C); 31 days group = (A, B, D)

B. 13 days group = (A, B, D); 31 days group = (A, B, C)

C. 13 days group = (B, C, D); 31 days group = (A, B, C)

D. 13 days group = (A, C, D); 31 days group = (A, B, C)

E. 13 days group = (A, B, D); 31 days group = (A, B, D)

IMO B
User avatar
Rakshit25
Joined: 16 Jun 2020
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 74
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 25
Products:
Posts: 74
Kudos: 34
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hey,

Can you please explain how are you getting an integer by equating the days worked by A, B and D to 13 days. Even if I go by trial and error, this option is not equal to 13

\(27(x)/31=13\)
\(x=(31*13)/27\)

x= 14.92 days which is not an integer

The logic for equating the option is not clear and even if you are trying to find an integer value of x, B does not match.

Thank you in advance:)

Kinshook
A takes thrice as much time as B to complete a piece of work.
B takes thrice as much time as C to complete the work.
C takes thrice as much time as D to complete the work.

One group of three of the four men can complete the work in 13 days while another group of three can do so in 31 days.

Which is the group that takes 13 days and which is the group that takes 31 days?

Let us assume that D takes x days to complete the work
C takes 3x days to complete the work
B takes 9x days to complete the work
A takes 27x days to complete the work

D is fastest and A is slowest.

Therefore, the group of (B,C,D) will take lowest time and the group of (A,B,C) will take highest time

Time taken by (B,C,D) to complete the work = 1/(1/9x + 1/3x + 1/x) = 9x/13
Time taken by (A,B,C) to complete the work = 1/(1/27x + 1/9x + 1/3x) = 27x/13
Time taken by (A,B,D) to complete the work = 1/(1/27x + 1/9x + 1/x) = 27x/31

If 27x/31 = 13; x = 13*31/27
27x/13 = 31

A. 13 days group = (A, B, C); 31 days group = (A, B, D)

B. 13 days group = (A, B, D); 31 days group = (A, B, C)

C. 13 days group = (B, C, D); 31 days group = (A, B, C)

D. 13 days group = (A, C, D); 31 days group = (A, B, C)

E. 13 days group = (A, B, D); 31 days group = (A, B, D)

IMO B
Moderators:
Math Expert
105385 posts
Tuck School Moderator
805 posts