Last visit was: 09 Jun 2026, 11:17 It is currently 09 Jun 2026, 11:17
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
rxs0005
Joined: 07 Jun 2004
Last visit: 21 Jun 2017
Posts: 436
Own Kudos:
3,327
 [31]
Given Kudos: 22
Location: PA
Posts: 436
Kudos: 3,327
 [31]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
30
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
KanishkM
Joined: 09 Mar 2018
Last visit: 18 Dec 2021
Posts: 755
Own Kudos:
515
 [5]
Given Kudos: 123
Location: India
Posts: 755
Kudos: 515
 [5]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
fluke
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 20 Dec 2010
Last visit: 24 Oct 2013
Posts: 1,093
Own Kudos:
5,188
 [4]
Given Kudos: 376
Posts: 1,093
Kudos: 5,188
 [4]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
subhashghosh
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 16 Nov 2010
Last visit: 25 Jun 2024
Posts: 894
Own Kudos:
1,310
 [2]
Given Kudos: 43
Location: United States (IN)
Concentration: Strategy, Technology
Products:
Posts: 894
Kudos: 1,310
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
1/2 + 1/3 = 5/6

so together they complete in 6/5 hrs and in 3/5 hrs they do 1/2 of Job together.

1/2 of job is done by A already, so they do remaning 1/2 and take 3/5 hrs for it.

So if B does 1/3 of job in 1 hr

in 3/5 hrs he'll complete 3/5 * 1/3 = 1/5 of Job

Answer - A
User avatar
jlgdr
Joined: 06 Sep 2013
Last visit: 24 Jul 2015
Posts: 1,299
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 355
Concentration: Finance
Posts: 1,299
Kudos: 3,000
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A does have of the job alone so 1/2 remains. Both A and B together do 5/6 of a job in an hour hence to do 1/2 of the job they will take 3/5 of an hour. In this time B does 3/5*1/3 = 1/5 of the job

Hence A is the correct answer choice

Please let me know if anything remains unclear
Cheers
J
avatar
PareshGmat
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
Last visit: 10 Jul 2016
Posts: 1,531
Own Kudos:
8,332
 [2]
Given Kudos: 193
Status:The Best Or Nothing
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Technology
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 1,531
Kudos: 8,332
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
................................ Rate .............. Time ................. Work

A ................................ \(\frac{1}{2}\) ............... 2 ....................... 1

B .............................. \(\frac{1}{3}\) .................. 3 ........................ 1

Work done by A alone in 1 hour \(= \frac{1}{2} * 1 = \frac{1}{2}\)

Pending work \(= 1 - \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{2}\)

Combined rate of A & B\(= \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3} = \frac{5}{6}\)

Time required for A & B combine to complete the remaining work \(= \frac{\frac{1}{2}}{\frac{5}{6}} = \frac{3}{5}\)

Work done by B in the combined effort \(= \frac{1}{3} * \frac{3}{5} = \frac{1}{5}\)

Answer = A
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatRichC
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,777
Own Kudos:
13,112
 [3]
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,777
Kudos: 13,112
 [3]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi All,

The answer choices to this question are really helpful in getting to the correct answer - they're "spread out" enough that we can avoid almost all of the math and solve this with some logic and a "comparison."

We're told that A can complete a job in 2 hours and B can complete a job in 3 hours.

Next, we're told that A works alone for 1 hour. This means that A complete 1/2 of the job before B even shows up, so only 1/2 of the job remains to be completed.

If A and B worked at the SAME rate, then each would do "half of the half" of the job that's left. In total, A would end up doing 3/4 and B would end up doing 1/4 of the job.

HOWEVER, A works FASTER than B (2 hrs to 3 hrs to complete the job, respectively), so A does MORE than "half of the half" of the job that's left. This means that A does MORE then 3/4 and B does LESS than 1/4. Looking at the answers, there's only one that is LESS THAN 1/4.

Final Answer:
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
User avatar
gracie
Joined: 07 Dec 2014
Last visit: 11 Oct 2020
Posts: 1,027
Own Kudos:
2,043
 [1]
Given Kudos: 27
Posts: 1,027
Kudos: 2,043
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
t=time for A and B to complete job
t/2+t/3=1/2 of job
t=3/5 hour
(3/5)(1/3)=3/15=1/5 of job done by B
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 39,199
Own Kudos:
Posts: 39,199
Kudos: 1,129
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.
Moderator:
Math Expert
111155 posts