Bunuel
A tank can be filled by Pipe 1 in 7 hours and by Pipe 2 in 5 hours. There is a waste pipe which is kept open when Pipe 2 is working; the tank then takes 8 hours 30 minutes to fill. What is the approximate time taken to fill the tank if all the three pipes are working?
(A) 3 hours 20 minutes
(B) 3 hours 50 minutes
(C) 4 hours 15 minutes
(D) 4 hours 50 minutes
(E) 5 hours 30 minutes
Solution -Pipe 1 and Pipe 2 can fill the tank in 7 and 5 hours respectively whereas the Waste Pipe takes 8 hours 30 minutes to fill given that Pipe 2 is working.
Let the Waste Pipe be represented as Pipe 3.
Therefore,
The rate at which Pipe 1 can fill the tank = \(\frac{1}{7}\)
The rate at which Pipe 2 can fill the tank = \(\frac{1}{5}\)
The rate at which Pipe 3 can fill the tank = \(\frac{1}{(Pipe 3)}\)
Since, it is given in the question that when Pipe 2 is working and Pipe 3 is kept open, the time taken to fill is 8.5 hours.
So, we can write, the rate = \(\frac{1}{8.5}\)
Therefore, \(\frac{1}{5}- \frac{1}{(Pipe 3)} = \frac{1}{8.5\\
}\)
So, \(\frac{1}{(Pipe 3)} = \frac{1}{5} - \frac{1}{8.5} = \frac{(17-10)}{85} = \frac{7}{85} \\
\)
When all pipes are kept open, the rate will be = \(\frac{1}{7}+ \frac{1}{5} - \frac{7}{85}= \frac{12}{35} - \frac{7}{85}= \frac{155}{595}= \frac{31}{119}\)
Time = \(\frac{1}{(Rate )}= \frac{119}{31}=3.84 \\
\)
To convert 0.84 hours in minutes, we multiply by 60 = 60 * 0.84 = 50.4 minutes
So, the time is approximately 3 hours 50 minutes.
Answer Choice-B