Question Details

Pipe A can fill 50% of the tank in 6 hours and Pipe B can fill 100% capacity of tank in 18 hours. If Pipe C can empty the full tank in 9 hours, then find the time taken by the all the pipes to fill the tank together (in hours).

Options

A

18

B

22

C

32

D

36

E

24

Show Answer

Correct Answer :

Option D

36

36

Solution :

To find the time taken by all three pipes working together to fill the tank, we can determine the individual work rates of each pipe.

Let the total capacity of the tank be represented as 1 unit (or a volume of V).

Step 1: Find the rate of Pipe A
Pipe A can fill 50% (which is 12) of the tank in 6 hours.
Therefore, the time taken by Pipe A to fill 100% (the full tank) is:
6×2=12 hours
So, the rate of Pipe A (part filled per hour) is:
RA=112

Step 2: Find the rate of Pipe B
Pipe B can fill the full tank in 18 hours.
So, the rate of Pipe B (part filled per hour) is:
RB=118

Step 3: Find the rate of Pipe C
Pipe C is an emptying pipe that can empty the full tank in 9 hours.
Since it empties the tank, we represent its rate as negative.
The rate of Pipe C (part emptied per hour) is:
RC=-19

Step 4: Find the net rate when all three pipes are open together
The net rate of filling per hour is:
Rnet=RA+RB+RC
Rnet=112+118-19

To simplify this expression, find the Least Common Multiple (LCM) of the denominators 12, 18, and 9. The LCM is 36.
Now, rewrite each fraction with a denominator of 36:
112=336
118=236
19=436

Substitute these back into the rate equation:
Rnet=336+236-436
Rnet=3+2-436
Rnet=136

Step 5: Calculate the time taken to fill the tank
The time taken to fill the entire tank is the reciprocal of the net rate:
Time=1Rnet=36 hours

Therefore, the correct answer option is 36.

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