A piece of work can be finished in 7 or 14 days by A and B alone. After two days of working on it together, A and B are joined by C. The work is now finished in a single day. How many days is Calone able to do that task? [Answer Limit: 125 words] [UKPSC 2012]
A can complete the work in 7 days, so A’s work rate is 71 of the work per day.
B can complete it in 14 days, so B’s work rate is 141 of the work per day.
When A and B work together for 2 days:
Combined work rate=71+141=142+141=143In 2 days, they complete:
Work done=2×143=146=73Remaining work:
1−73=74Let C’s work rate be x1. Together, A, B, and C complete the remaining work in 1 day:
143+x1=1This simplifies to:
x1=1−143=1411Thus,
x=1114Therefore, C can complete the work alone in 1114 days, or approximately 1.27 days