Last visit was: 27 Apr 2026, 16:25 It is currently 27 Apr 2026, 16:25
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
GMATBusters
User avatar
GMAT Tutor
Joined: 27 Oct 2017
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,922
Own Kudos:
6,862
 [13]
Given Kudos: 241
WE:General Management (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,922
Kudos: 6,862
 [13]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
10
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 27 Apr 2026
Posts: 11,229
Own Kudos:
45,030
 [1]
Given Kudos: 335
Status:Math and DI Expert
Location: India
Concentration: Human Resources, General Management
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Posts: 11,229
Kudos: 45,030
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
satya2029
Joined: 10 Dec 2017
Last visit: 29 Sep 2025
Posts: 229
Own Kudos:
255
 [2]
Given Kudos: 138
Location: India
Posts: 229
Kudos: 255
 [2]
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
PinakiRDas
Joined: 07 Jan 2012
Last visit: 22 Jan 2020
Posts: 45
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 72
Location: Canada
Concentration: International Business, Entrepreneurship
GMAT Date: 04-30-2012
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 45
Kudos: 18
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
satya2029
gmatbusters
Contractor X employs 200 men to build a dam. They finish 5/6 of the work in 10 months. Then rain sets in and not only does the work remain suspended for 4 months but also half of the work already done is washed away. After the rain, when the work is resumed, only 140 men turn up. The total time in which the contractor is able to complete the work assuming that there are no further disruptions in the schedule is
(a) 25 months
(b) 26 months
(c) 24 months
(d) 20 months
(e) None of these

GMATbuster's Collection
R(RATE)* TIME=WORK
if rate is same for workers then
X*R*t=W
200*R*10=5/6
R=1/200*2*6
Since half of the work is washed away so work done by those 200 people will be= 5/12
remaining work=1-5/12=7/12
Now 140 men with same rate
140*(1/200*2*6)*t=7/12
t=10 months
Total time= 10+4+10
=24months
C:)
Can you please explain how this lands to 10?

140*(1/200*2*6)*t=7/12
t=10 months
User avatar
satya2029
Joined: 10 Dec 2017
Last visit: 29 Sep 2025
Posts: 229
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 138
Location: India
Posts: 229
Kudos: 255
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
PinakiRDas
satya2029
gmatbusters
Contractor X employs 200 men to build a dam. They finish 5/6 of the work in 10 months. Then rain sets in and not only does the work remain suspended for 4 months but also half of the work already done is washed away. After the rain, when the work is resumed, only 140 men turn up. The total time in which the contractor is able to complete the work assuming that there are no further disruptions in the schedule is
(a) 25 months
(b) 26 months
(c) 24 months
(d) 20 months
(e) None of these

GMATbuster's Collection
R(RATE)* TIME=WORK
if rate is same for workers then
X*R*t=W
200*R*10=5/6
R=1/200*2*6
Since half of the work is washed away so work done by those 200 people will be= 5/12
remaining work=1-5/12=7/12
Now 140 men with same rate
140*(1/200*2*6)*t=7/12
t=10 months
Total time= 10+4+10
=24months
C:)
Can you please explain how this lands to 10?

140*(1/200*2*6)*t=7/12
t=10 months
Rate* time= work
Since rate is same for all the 140 men
140* Rate* time= work

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
GMATWhizTeam
User avatar
GMATWhiz Representative
Joined: 07 May 2019
Last visit: 26 Apr 2026
Posts: 3,374
Own Kudos:
2,194
 [1]
Given Kudos: 70
Location: India
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V41
GMAT 2: 760 Q51 V40
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 760 Q51 V40
Posts: 3,374
Kudos: 2,194
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
gmatbusters
Contractor X employs 200 men to build a dam. They finish 5/6 of the work in 10 months. Then rain sets in and not only does the work remain suspended for 4 months but also half of the work already done is washed away. After the rain, when the work is resumed, only 140 men turn up. The total time in which the contractor is able to complete the work assuming that there are no further disruptions in the schedule is
(a) 25 months
(b) 26 months
(c) 24 months
(d) 20 months
(e) None of these

GMATbuster's Collection


    • 200 men can complete \(\frac{5}{6}^{th}\) work in 10 months
    • 200 men can complete 1 work in \(\frac{10}{(5/6)}\) months = \(6*\frac{10}{5} = 12\) months
      o Ideally only 12 – 10 = 2 months of work should have been left.
However, half of the work done by them so far got wasted. They worked for 10 months and if half of it is wasted then that means 5 months of work is wasted.
    • So, now the 200 men need to complete = 5 month of rework + 2 months of work left = 7 months of work.
However, we have only 140 men, so we’ll need to more time.
    • 200 men complete the work in 7 months
    • 1 man can complete it in 7*200 months
    • 140 men can complete the work in \((7*\frac{200}{140}) = 10\) months.
Thus, total time taken to complete the project = 10 months + 4 months of delay + 10 months = 24 months.

Correct Answer: Option C
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 27 Apr 2026
Posts: 5,988
Own Kudos:
5,860
 [1]
Given Kudos: 163
Location: India
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 5,988
Kudos: 5,860
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATBusters
Given: Contractor X employs 200 men to build a dam. They finish 5/6 of the work in 10 months. Then rain sets in and not only does the work remain suspended for 4 months but also half of the work already done is washed away. After the rain, when the work is resumed, only 140 men turn up.

Asked: The total time in which the contractor is able to complete the work assuming that there are no further disruptions in the schedule is
Men = 200
Time = 10 months
Work completed = 5/6
Men-months needed to complete the whole work = 200*10*6/5 = 2400 men-months
Men-months completed = 2000 men-months

Time wasted because of suspension = 4 months 

Since half of the work already done is washed away.
Men-months wasted = 1000 men-months

Remaining men-months = 2400 - 2000 + 1000 = 1400 men-months
Men available = 140
Time required in months to complete the remaining work = 1400/140 = 10 months

The total time in which the contractor is able to complete the work assuming that there are no further disruptions in the schedule = 10 + 4 + 10 = 24 months

IMO C
­
User avatar
GMATBusters
User avatar
GMAT Tutor
Joined: 27 Oct 2017
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,922
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 241
WE:General Management (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,922
Kudos: 6,862
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
You are correct, Kinshook :angel:
Kinshook
GMATBusters
Given: Contractor X employs 200 men to build a dam. They finish 5/6 of the work in 10 months. Then rain sets in and not only does the work remain suspended for 4 months but also half of the work already done is washed away. After the rain, when the work is resumed, only 140 men turn up.

Asked: The total time in which the contractor is able to complete the work assuming that there are no further disruptions in the schedule is
Men = 200
Time = 10 months
Work completed = 5/6
Men-months needed to complete the whole work = 200*10*6/5 = 2400 men-months
Men-months completed = 2000 men-months

Time wasted because of suspension = 4 months 

Since half of the work already done is washed away.
Men-months wasted = 1000 men-months

Remaining men-months = 2400 - 2000 + 1000 = 1400 men-months
Men available = 140
Time required in months to complete the remaining work = 1400/140 = 10 months

The total time in which the contractor is able to complete the work assuming that there are no further disruptions in the schedule = 10 + 4 + 10 = 24 months

IMO C
­
­
Moderators:
Math Expert
109929 posts
Tuck School Moderator
852 posts