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SravnaTestPrep
X takes 10 days to complete a task. Y takes half that time to complete the same task. X starts working on the task and later Y joins X. Both work on the task together and complete the task. If 40% of the total work is done by X, for how many days did X and Y work together?

A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
E. 6


if 40% is done by X , 60% is done by Y and question tells us clearly that Y joins X and they both continue together , X do not go anywhere once Y joined him, so the time it took Y to complete 60% of work will be the time both X and Y worked together.

5* 60% = 3 days
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SravnaTestPrep
X takes 10 days to complete a task. Y takes half that time to complete the same task. X starts working on the task and later Y joins X. Both work on the task together and complete the task. If 40% of the total work is done by X, for how many days did X and Y work together?

A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
E. 6

We can let the number of days X worked alone = x and the number of days X and Y worked together = t. Since the rate of X is 1/10 and the rate of Y is 1/5, we have:

x(1/10) + t(1/10) = 2/5

and

x(1/10) + t(1/10 + 1/5) = 1

If we subtract the first equation from the second, we have:

t(1/5) = 3/5

t = 3

Answer: B
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SravnaTestPrep
X takes 10 days to complete a task. Y takes half that time to complete the same task. X starts working on the task and later Y joins X. Both work on the task together and complete the task. If 40% of the total work is done by X, for how many days did X and Y work together?

A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
E. 6

Since X takes 10 days to complete a task, Y must complete the task within 5 days
because Y takes half the time X takes to complete the work.

If the total unit of work is 50 units, X does 5 units/day and Y does 10 units/day

We are told that 40% of the total work - 20 units is to be done by X.
Therefore, Y working along with X does 60% of the work - 30 units in 3 days(Option B)
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Given: X takes 10 days to complete a task. Y takes half that time to complete the same task. X starts working on the task and later Y joins X. Both work on the task together and complete the task.
Asked: If 40% of the total work is done by X, for how many days did X and Y work together?

X takes 10 days to complete a task.
Y takes 5 days to complete a task.

X starts working on the task and later Y joins X. Both work on the task together and complete the task.
Let us assume that X worked for x days and then they both worked together for y days to complete the task

Work done by X = x/10 + y/10
Work done by Y = y/5
(x+y)10 + y/5 = 1
x/10 + 3y/10 = 1
x + 3y = 10

Work done by X = (x+y)/10 = .4
x + y = 4
X & Y worked together for = y = 3 days


IMO B
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Solution

Time actually worked by x = ax and by Y = ay
ax is also equal to ax1 + ax2 where ax1 is the time worked by x alone and ax2 time worked together and ax2=ay

ax/10+ay/5 = 1
(ax1/10 + ax2/10) +ay/5 =1
(ax1/10 +ay/10) +ay/5=1
ay/5 =1-4/10 = 6/10
ay=3
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