Question

Two men and 7 women can together do a piece of work in 4 days. It is done by 4 men and 4 women in 3 days. How long would it take for one man or one woman to do the work

Answer 1

Answer:

12 days

Step-by-step explanation:

Time taken by one man = x days , and that by 1 boy = y days

work done in 1 day by one man = 1/x

work done in 1 day by one boy= 1/y

work done by 2 men in one day = 2/x

work done by 7 boys in one day = 7/y

2/x + 7/y = 1/4      -----> [ 1]

work done by 4 men in one day = 4/x

work done by 4 boys in one day = 4/y

4/x + 4/y = 1/3       ----> [2]

Multiplying  equation 1 by  , 2 ,  

2(2/x + 7/y = 1/4   )

 = 4/x + 14/y = 1/2           ---> [3]

solving equations 2 and 3

 4/x + 4/y = 1/3  

- 4/x + 14/y = 1/2  

==============

-10/y = 2-3/6

-10/y = -1/6

-1/6y = -10

y = -10 × 6/-1

  = 60 

2/x + 7/y = 1/4

2/x + 7/60 = 1/4

7/60 - 1/4 = -2/x

-8/60 = -2/x

-120 = -8x

x = -120/-8

x = 15

=================================

Time taken by 1 man to do the  whole job = 15 days

time taken by 1 boy to do the whole  job = 60 days

time taken by one boy and one man to do one day's work = 1/60 + 1/15

                                         = 1/60 + 4/60

                                         = 5/60  = 1/12

Together they can do it in 12 days !