Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 07:56 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 07:56
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
bimalr9
Joined: 20 Mar 2015
Last visit: 07 Nov 2017
Posts: 39
Own Kudos:
342
 [11]
Given Kudos: 9
Posts: 39
Kudos: 342
 [11]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
9
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Abhishek009
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Last visit: 17 Dec 2025
Posts: 5,903
Own Kudos:
5,454
 [3]
Given Kudos: 463
Status:QA & VA Forum Moderator
Location: India
GPA: 3.5
WE:Business Development (Commercial Banking)
Posts: 5,903
Kudos: 5,454
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Divyadisha
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 18 Oct 2014
Last visit: 01 Jun 2018
Posts: 660
Own Kudos:
1,958
 [4]
Given Kudos: 69
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V31
GPA: 3.98
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V31
Posts: 660
Kudos: 1,958
 [4]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 16,442
Own Kudos:
79,401
 [1]
Given Kudos: 485
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,442
Kudos: 79,401
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
bimalr9
A, B, C working alone finish constructing a house in 4, 6 and 12 hrs. resp. A starts alone and works for 1 hr. He is then joined by B and they work together for 1 hr. Finally C joins them and they all work together to finish the work. If they start working at 9 am, at what time will they finish?

A. 11.30 am
B. 11.40 am.
C. 12.00 pm
D.11.10 am
E. 11.20am

Let's take the LCM of 4,6, and 12. LCM = 36
We know,
R* T = W
(For A) R * 4 = 36 R =9
(For B) R * 6 = 36 R =6
(For C) R * 12 = 36 R =3
A+B+C combined rate = 18
Now,
A completes 9 hrs of work in 1 hour. A and B combined completes 9+6 hrs of work in 1 hour. Total work completed is 24. Remaining work is 36-24 = 12.
Rate of A+B+C = 18.
Therefore,
R * T = W ==> 18 * t = 12 ==> t = 12/18 = 2/3hrs [2/3 * 60 = 40 min]
40 min + 1+1 hour = 2 hour 40 min.

therefore, answer is b.

Is this a sub-600 level question?

Say they work for t fraction of an hour after 11.

(Rate*Time) for each = (2 + t)/4 + (1 + t)/6 + t/12 = 1 = Total Work

6t/12 = 1/3

t = 2/3 hrs = 40 mins

Time at which the work gets done = 11:40
User avatar
Alex75PAris
Joined: 16 Mar 2016
Last visit: 08 Mar 2017
Posts: 100
Own Kudos:
274
 [1]
Location: France
GMAT 1: 660 Q47 V33
GPA: 3.25
GMAT 1: 660 Q47 V33
Posts: 100
Kudos: 274
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
From the question we know :

Ra x 4 = 1 => Ra = 1/4
Rb x 6 = 1 => Rb = 1/6
Rc x 12 = 1 => Rc = 1/12

stage 1 :
Ra x 1hour = 1/4 x 1hour = 1/4 = 6/24

stage 2 :
(Ra + Rb) x 1hour = (1/4 + 1/6) x 1hour = 10/24

stage 3 :
(Ra + Rb + Rc ) x Time = remaining work

remaining work = 1 - (6/24 + 10/24) = 8/24

So, (1/4 + 1/6 + 1/12) x Time = 8/24
12/24 x Time = 8/24
Time = 2/3 = 40 min

Finally,
Stage 1 + stage 2 + stage 3 = 1h + 1h + 40min = 2h40min
9h + 2h40 = 11h40, answer choice B
User avatar
Senthil1981
Joined: 23 Apr 2015
Last visit: 14 Oct 2021
Posts: 225
Own Kudos:
617
 [1]
Given Kudos: 36
Location: United States
Concentration: General Management, International Business
WE:Engineering (Consulting)
Posts: 225
Kudos: 617
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I like putting things in a table , that helps to proceed without making a mistake.

A , B and C can do 1/4, 1/6 and 1/12 each individually and respectively.

so
Time___Person involved_____Word done_________Remaining
9:00_______A________________0________________1
10:00____A (B just joins)_______1/4_______________3/4
11:00__A,B,(C just joins)__1/4 + (1/4 +1/6) = 2/3__1 - (1/4 + (1/4 +1/6)) = 1/3

So 1/3 is done by A+B+C, who can do 1/4+1/6+1/12 = 1/2 in an hour, so would need, 2/3 hour for remaining, which is 2/3* 60min = 40 mins.
Therefore 11:40.
(Excuse me for my formatting.)
User avatar
gracie
Joined: 07 Dec 2014
Last visit: 11 Oct 2020
Posts: 1,028
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 27
Posts: 1,028
Kudos: 2,022
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
let t=total time
1/4+5/12+(t-2)(1/2)=1
t=2 2/3 hrs=2 hrs 40 min
9 am+2 hrs 40 min=11:40 am
User avatar
JeffTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 04 Mar 2011
Last visit: 05 Jan 2024
Posts: 2,974
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,646
Status:Head GMAT Instructor
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 2,974
Kudos: 8,711
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
bimalr9
A, B, C working alone finish constructing a house in 4, 6 and 12 hrs. resp. A starts alone and works for 1 hr. He is then joined by B and they work together for 1 hr. Finally C joins them and they all work together to finish the work. If they start working at 9 am, at what time will they finish?

A. 11.30 am
B. 11.40 am.
C. 12.00 pm
D.11.10 am
E. 11.20am

We are given that A, B, and C, working alone, finish constructing a house in 4, 6, and 12 hours respectively.

Thus, we can let the rate of A = 1/4, the rate of B = 1/6, and the rate of C = 1/12.

We can let x = the number of hours the three people work together when C joins in.

Thus, the number of hours A works is 2 + x, the number of hours B works is 1 + x, and the number of hours C works is x.

We can now determine x with the following equation:

work of A + work of B + work of C = 1

(2 + x)/4 + (1 + x)/6 + x/12 = 1

Multiplying the entire equation by 12, we have:

3(2 + x) + 2(1 + x) + x = 12

6 + 3x + 2 + 2x + x = 12

6x = 4

x = 4/6 = 2/3 hour = 40 minutes

Since A started at 9 a.m., they finished constructing the house 2 hours and 40 minutes later, or 11:40 a.m.

Answer: B
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,972
Own Kudos:
1,117
 [1]
Posts: 38,972
Kudos: 1,117
 [1]
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.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109814 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts