BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

rate question

Expert replies
by jamesk486 » Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:23 pm
Working independently at their respective constant rates, pumps X and Y took 48 minutes to fill an empty tank with water. What fraction of the water in the full tank came from pump x?

(1) working alone at its constant rate, pump X would have taken 80 minutes to fill the tank with water.
(1) working alone at its constant rate, pump y would have taken 120 minutes to fill the tank with water.


thanks!
Join the discussion
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

by grockit_jake » Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:05 pm
We know that Rx + Ry = Rx+y.

We are given Rx+y = 1/48

(1) gives us Rx = 1/80
(2) gives us Ry = 1/120

Each is sufficient to find the other rate, and once you know each individual rate, you know the proportion of total work done.

As a check, note that 1/80 + 1/120 = 1/48.
Jake Becker
Academic Director
Grockit Test Prep
https://www.grockit.com
Join the discussion

by hpgmat » Tue Aug 25, 2009 12:20 am
grockit_jake wrote:We know that Rx + Ry = Rx+y.

We are given Rx+y = 1/48

(1) gives us Rx = 1/80
(2) gives us Ry = 1/120

Each is sufficient to find the other rate, and once you know each individual rate, you know the proportion of total work done.

As a check, note that 1/80 + 1/120 = 1/48.
PLS CONFIRM IF THE ANSWER IS 60 PERCENT
Will Win
Join the discussion

by grockit_jake » Tue Aug 25, 2009 2:08 pm
The goal of the question is to see what is sufficient, not necessarily what the values are.

We don't need to calculate the actual percent that comes from x, but just IF we are able to.
Jake Becker
Academic Director
Grockit Test Prep
https://www.grockit.com
Join the discussion