Tap A can fill a tank in 10 hours, tap B can fill it in 20 hours, and, an outlet, Tap C, can empty the tank in 30 hours. Each tap is opened, one by one, for exactly one hour and then closed. If the tank is 1/4th full, and the taps start working in alphabetic order (A, B, and then C), after how long will the tank begin to overflow?
A. 6 hours 25 minutes
B. 6 hours 30 minutes
C. 18 hours 25 minutes
D. 18 hours 30 minutes
E. 19 hours 18 minutes
Given: Tap A can fill a tank in 10 hours, tap B can fill it in 20 hours, and, an outlet, Tap C, can empty the tank in 30 hours. Each tap is opened, one by one, for exactly one hour and then closed. If the tank is 1/4th full, and the taps start working in alphabetic order (A, B, and then C).
Asked: After how long will the tank begin to overflow?
Tap A can fill a tank in 10 hours => Tap A will fill 1/10 tank in an hour
Tap B can fill it in 20 hours => Tap B will fill 1/20 tank in an hour
An outlet, Tap C, can empty the tank in 30 hours => Tap C will empty 1/30 tank in an hour
Taps start working in alphabetic order (A, B, and then C) => Within 3 hours they together fill \(\frac{1}{10}+\frac{1}{20}-\frac{1}{30} = \frac{7}{60}\) tank
If the tank is \(\frac{1}{4}\)th full
=> After 3x hours it will be \(\frac{1}{4} + \frac{7x}{60} = \frac{15+7x}{60}\) full
\(\frac{15+7x}{60}<1\)
=> 15+7x<60
=>7x<45
=>x=6
After 3x = 18 hours tank will be \(\frac{57}{60} full or \frac{3}{60} = \frac{1}{20}\) empty
Now tank A will be in operation and will fill \(\frac{1}{20}\)tank in \(\frac{1}{2}\) hours (30 minutes)
=> Tank will overflow in 18 hours 30 minutes.
IMO D