Pipe And

Cistern

QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE

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Pipe And Cistern

Concept of ‘Pipe and Cistern’

 Same as ‘Time and Work’

 Here, Time of filling cistern = Time to do a work

 Volume of cistern = Total work

 Speed of filling cistern = Efficiency of work

Testbook Trick

The above diagram shows the general

structure of how we can quickly analyze a
question based on Time and Work. Similar
concept is applicable for Pipe and Cistern
as well. The figure beside shows its
application in Pipe and Cistern Problems.
Questions have been solved in the next
pages to show how it is applied.

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Points to Remember
 If a pipe can fill a tank in x hours and another pipe can fill it in y hours, then the
fraction of tank filled by both pipes together in 1 hour
1 1 x+y
= + =
x y xy
 If a pipe can fill a tank in x hours and another pipe can empty it in y hours, then the
fraction of tank filled by both the pipes together in 1 hour
1 1 y-x
=  =
x y xy

Basic Questions
Q. Two pipes P and Q, when opened alone can fill the tank in 20 and 30 hours
respectively. If both pipes are opened together, then in how many hours will
the tank be filled?
A. Solution:
Part of tank filled by pipe P in 1 hour = 1/20
Part of tank filled by pipe Q in 1 hour = 1/30
⇒ Tank filled by both pipes in 1 hour = 1/20 + 1/30 = 5/60 = 1/12
∴ Complete tank will be filled by both in 12 hours.
Alternate Solution:

P + Q = 3 + 2 = 5 unit/h

60
Time taken = =12 hours
5

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Q. A tank can be filled by pipe A in 5 hours and emptied by pipe B in 8 hours

respectively. How much time will it take for the tank to be half full?
A. Pipe alone can fill the tank in = 5 hrs
Pipe alone can empty the tank in = 8 hrs
Let tank to be half full in x hrs, then
According to the question
x/5 - x/8 = 1/2
(8x - 5x)/40 = 1/2
3x/40 = 1/2
3x = (1/2) × 40 = 20

2
x = 20/3 = 6 h
3

Work Alternately
In this type of questions two pipes work on alternate hours

Q. Two pipes A and B can fill a tank in 6 hours and 4 hours respectively. If they
are opened on alternate hours and if pipe A is opened first, then the tank shall
be filled in:
A. Let the filling rate of A be a, and that of B be b. Let the capacity of the tank be C. We
have

C=a×6=b×4

⇒ a = C/6 and b = C/4

Given, pipe A is opened in the first hour. Hence, C/6 is filled in the first hour.
Similarly, C/4 is filled in the second hour. In two hours, we have a capacity of 5C/12
filled.

Hence, in 4 hrs, we have 10C/12 capacity filled. There is 1/6th of the capacity to be
filled.

Pipe A is filling the tank now. It will fill this tank in an hour. Hence, it takes a total of 5
hours to fill this tank.

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Alternate Solution:

Frequently asked Questions

Q. Three taps P, Q and R can fill a tank in 20, 30 and 40 minutes respectively. If all
the three taps are opened, then how much time (in minutes) it will take to
completely fill the tank?
A. Time taken by tap P to fill the tank = 20 minutes
⇒ Part of tank filled in 1 minute = 1/20
Similarly, tank filled by Q and R in 1 min = 1/30 and 1/40 respectively.
⇒ Part of tank filled by all three taps in 1 minute = 1/20 + 1/30 + 1/40 = 13/120
3
∴ Tank will be completely filled in 120/13 minutes = 9 minutes
13

Q. Pipe A can fill in 20 minutes and Pipe B in 30 mins and Pipe C can empty the
same in 40 mins. If all of them work together, find the time taken to fill the
tank?
A. In one min work done by A = 1/20
In one min work done by B = 1/30
In one min work done by C = 1/40
∵ A and B both fill the tank and C empty the tank

1 1 1 643 7
∴ Total work done in one min to fill the tank     
20 30 40 120 120

∴ Time take to fill the tank = 120/7 mins

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Alternate Solution:

A + B + C = 6 + 4 – 3 = 7 unit/mint
120 1
Time = =17 mint
7 7

Q. Two pipes A and B can fill a tank in 60 minutes and 75 minutes respectively.
There is also an outlet C. If A, B and C are opened together, the tank is full in
50 minutes. How much time will be taken by C to empty the full tank?
A. Let the volume of the tank be V liters and time taken by C to empty the full tank be t
⇒ Flow rate of A = Volume of tank/Time taken to fill it = V/60
⇒ Flow rate of B = V/75
⇒ Flow rate of C = V/t
When A, B and C are open, Net flow rate = V/60 + V/75 – V/t
Net flow rate × 50 = Volume of tank
⇒ 50V/60 + 50V/75 – 50V/t = V
⇒ 5/6 + 2/3 – 50/t = 1
⇒ 9/6 – 50/t = 1
⇒ 3/2 – 50/t = 1
⇒ 50/t = ½
∴ t = 100 minutes
Alternate Solution:

A + B + C = 6 unit/h
C=6–A–B=6–5–4
= -3 unit/mint

300
Time = =100 mint
3

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Q. Two taps A and B fill a tank in 24 minutes and 32 minutes respectively. If both
the taps are opened simultaneously, after how many minutes tap B should be
closed so that the tank fills up in 18 minutes.
A. Tap A fills 1/24 of the tank in 1 minute
Tap B fills 1/32 of the tank in 1 minute
Let,
After x minutes tap B should be closed
So,
⇒ 18/24 + x/32 = 1
⇒ x/32 = 1 - 18/24
x = 6/24 × 32 = 8 minutes
Alternate Solution:

Pipe A is open for 18 mint = 18 × 4 = 72 mints

Remaining 96 – 72 = 24 units were filled by B

24
Time = =8 minutes
3

Q. Pipe A and B can fill a tank in 15 minutes and 10 minutes respectively. Pipe C
can empty the tank in 5 minutes. Pipe A and B are opened simultaneously and
after 4 minute pipe C is also opened. In what time the tank will be emptied?
A. ⇒ A’s work in 1 minute = 1/15
⇒ B’s work in 1 minute = 1/10
⇒ C’s work in 1 minute = - (1/5) {it is emptying the tank}
⇒ (A + B)’s work in 1 minute = (1/15) + (1/10) = (1/6),
⇒ (A + B + C)’s work in 1 minute = (1/15) + (1/10) – (1/5) = - (1/30)
∵ Pipe A and B are opened for 4 minutes and then, tank filled in 4 minutes-
= 4 × (1/6) = 2/3.
Now, pipe C is also opened, so time required to emptying the tank x
⇒ x/30 = 2/3
⇒ x = 20 min.
Hence, the required time to complete is 20 minutes.

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Q. One pipe fills a water tank five times faster than other pipes. If two pipes
together can fill the empty tank in 108 min, then how much time will the slower
pipe alone take to fill the tank?
A. Time taken for faster pipe = 5 × time taken by slower pipe
⇒ 5/x + 1/x = 1/108
⇒ x = 648
∴ Required time = 10 hours 48 minutes

Q. A pipe can fill a tank in 72 hours. Due to leakage in the tank, It is filled in 108
hours. If the tank is full to 3/4th of its capacity. How much time it will take for
the leakage to empty the tank? (In hours)
A. Let pipe be denoted by A and leakage by L

A+L=4
6+L=4
L = 4 – 6 = -2
3/4 of the capacity of tank = 3/4 × 432 = 324
Time taken for the leakage to empty the tank = 324/2 = 162 hours

Q. Two pipes A and B fill a tank in 36 and 48 minutes respectively. If both are
opened simultaneously, after how much time should pipe B be closed so that
the tank is full after 24 minutes?

A. ⇒ Work done by A and B in one minute is 1/36 and 1/48 respectively

⇒ Work done by A and B together in one minute = 1/36 + 1/48 = (4 + 3)/144 = 7/144
Let’s assume that the pipe B is closed after x minutes.
∴ 7/144 × x + 1/36 × (24 - x) = 1
⇒ 7x/144 + (96 - 4x)/144 = 1
⇒ 96 + 3x = 144
⇒ x = 16

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Alternate Solution:
Tank filled by pipe A in 24 minutes = 24 × 4 = 96
Remaining part of tank = 144 - 96 = 48
Tank filled by pipe B = 48/3 = 16 minutes
After 16 minutes B should be closed.

Q. Pipes A and B can fill a tank in 16 hours and 24 hours, respectively, and pipe C
alone can empty the full tank in x hours. All the pipes were opened together at
10:30 AM, but C was closed at 2:30 PM. If the tank was full at 8:30 PM on the
same day, then what is the value of x?

A. Pipes A and B can fill a tank in 16 hrs and 24 hrs respectively, and pipe C alone can
empty the full tank in x hrs.
Pipe A and pipe B work for = 10:30 AM to 8:30 PM = 10 hrs
Pipe C work for = 10:30 to 2:30 PM = 4 hrs
According to the question
(10) × (1/16 + 1/24) – (4/x) = 1
⇒ (10) × [(3 + 2)/48] – (4/x) = 1
⇒ (10) × (5/48) – (4/x) = 1
⇒ (25/24) – (4/x) = 1
⇒ 4/x = (25/24) – 1

Alternate Method:
Total work = 48
Efficiency ratio of A to B = 3 : 2
Let the efficiency of pipe C be k, then
Pipe A and pipe B work for = 10:30 AM to 8:30 PM = 10 hrs
Pipe C work for = 10:30 to 2:30 PM = 4 hrs
According to the question
10(3 + 2) – 4k = 48
⇒ 10 × 5 – 4k = 48
⇒ 4k = 50 – 48
⇒ k = 1/2
So, pipe C alone can empty the full tank in = 48/(1/2) = 96 hr
So, x = 96 hrs

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Q. Pipe A and Pipe B can alone fill a tank in 20 hours and 30 hours, respectively
and Pipe C alone can empty the tank in 15 hours. If pipe A opened alone for
the first hour and Pipe B opened alone for the second hour and after the
second hour all three pipes are opened, then the total time required to fill the
tank is –

A. Tank filled in the first two hours by pipe A and pipe B respectively
=3+2=5
Tank remained empty after two hours = 60 – 5 = 55
Efficiency of (A + B - C) = 3 + 2 - 4 = 1
Time taken by three pipes to fill the remaining tank = 55/1 = 55 hours
∴ Total time required to fill the tank = 2 + 55 = 57 hours
Alternate Solution:
1 hour’s of Pipe A work = 1/20
1 hour’s work of Pipe B = 1/30
1 hour’s work of Pipe C = 1/15
1 hour's work of Pipe (A + B + C)
= 1/20 + 1/30 – 1/15
= 1/60
Tank filled in first hour = 1/20
Tank filled in the second hour = 1/30
Tank filled in the first two hours = 1/20 + 1/30 = 5/60 = 1/12
Tank remaining empty after two hours = 1 – 1/12 = 11/12
Time taken by three pipes = 11/12 × 60 = 55
∴ Total time required to fill the tank = 2 + 55 = 57 hours for given conditions.

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