Last visit was: 14 May 2025, 05:22 It is currently 14 May 2025, 05:22
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
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 14 May 2025
Posts: 101,410
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 93,495
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 101,410
Kudos: 724,097
 [20]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
18
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
sterling19
Joined: 14 Sep 2014
Last visit: 03 Jun 2015
Posts: 97
Own Kudos:
142
 [8]
Given Kudos: 236
Concentration: Technology, Finance
WE:Analyst (Other)
Posts: 97
Kudos: 142
 [8]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 28 Apr 2025
Posts: 11,312
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 333
Status:Math and DI Expert
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 11,312
Kudos: 40,570
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 14 May 2025
Posts: 101,410
Own Kudos:
724,097
 [3]
Given Kudos: 93,495
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 101,410
Kudos: 724,097
 [3]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Working alone, Mary can pave a driveway in 8 hours and Hillary can pave the same driveway in 6 hours. When they work together, Mary thrives on teamwork so her rate increases by 33.33%, but Hillary becomes distracted and her rate decreases by 50%. If they both work together, how many hours will it take to pave the driveway?

A. 3 hours
B. 4 hours
C. 5 hours
D. 6 hours
E. 7 hours

Kudos for a correct solution.

VERITAS PREP OFFICIAL SOLUTION:

Mary's alone rate is 1/8, and working together that increases by a third, so the calculation is 1/8(4/3)=1/6
Hillary's alone rate is 1/6, but working together that's cut in half to 1/12.

That means that their combined rate is 1/6+1/12 which becomes 2/12+1/12 when you find the common denominator of 12. That means that the combined rate is 3/12=1/4, meaning that it will take them 4 hours to finish the job.
User avatar
JeffTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 04 Mar 2011
Last visit: 05 Jan 2024
Posts: 3,007
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,646
Status:Head GMAT Instructor
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,007
Kudos: 7,725
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Working alone, Mary can pave a driveway in 8 hours and Hillary can pave the same driveway in 6 hours. When they work together, Mary thrives on teamwork so her rate increases by 33.33%, but Hillary becomes distracted and her rate decreases by 50%. If they both work together, how many hours will it take to pave the driveway?

A. 3 hours
B. 4 hours
C. 5 hours
D. 6 hours
E. 7 hours

Mary’s original rate = 1/8, and when she works with Hilary, her new rate is 1/8 x 1 1/3 = 1/8 x 4/3 = 4/24 = ⅙.

Hillary’s original rate = 1/6, and when she works with Mary, her new rate is 1/6 x 1/2 = 1/12.

Thus, their combined new rate is 1/6 + 1/12 = 2/12 + 1/12 = 3/12 = 1/4. This rate of 1/4 is interpreted as “1 driveway per 4 hours,” so the time it takes them to complete the driveway is 4 hours.

Answer: B
User avatar
abansal1805
Joined: 03 Jul 2017
Last visit: 06 Dec 2021
Posts: 63
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 33
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Economics
GPA: 3.4
Posts: 63
Kudos: 479
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Dear Bunuel

I think I find this approach easier rather than dealing with confusing fractions.
https://gmatclub.com/forum/an-easier-ap ... 53073.html

What do you think?
Thanks,
Ayush
User avatar
testcracker
Joined: 24 Mar 2015
Last visit: 02 Dec 2024
Posts: 205
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 541
Status:love the club...
Posts: 205
Kudos: 123
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Working alone, Mary can pave a driveway in 8 hours and Hillary can pave the same driveway in 6 hours. When they work together, Mary thrives on teamwork so her rate increases by 33.33%, but Hillary becomes distracted and her rate decreases by 50%. If they both work together, how many hours will it take to pave the driveway?

A. 3 hours
B. 4 hours
C. 5 hours
D. 6 hours
E. 7 hours

Kudos for a correct solution.

new rate

1/8 x 4/3 = 1/6
1/6 x 1/2 = 1/12

combined rate: 1/6 + 1/12 = 1/4

total time taken is reciprocal of the combined rate
so time is 4 hours

thanks
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 36,845
Own Kudos:
Posts: 36,845
Kudos: 982
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
Math Expert
101410 posts
PS Forum Moderator
579 posts