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Pipes and Cisterns - Basic Formulas, Shortcuts,

Rules, Tricks & Tips - Quantitative Aptitude
Useful For All Competitive Exams Like UPSC, SSC, BANK
& RAILWAY
Posted By Careericons Team

Introduction to Pipes and Cisterns:

Pipe and cistern or tank problems are similar to time and work
problems. These problems generally consist of a cistern (tank) to
which one or more pipes fill the cistern or empty the cistern may
be thought of as completing a job.

These problems of pipes and cisterns can be solved by using the

same method used in time and work. And we changes our
formulae according to the requirement of the pipes and cisterns.

1. A pipe connected with a tank or a cistern that fill the tank

is known as inlet.
2. A pipe connected with a tank that empty it is known as
outlet.

Pipes and Cisterns are Extension of the Concept

of Time & Work:
Here's how, Problems related to Pipes and Cisterns are almost the
same as those of Time and Work. Statement ‘pipes A and B can fill
a tank in 2 hours and 3 hours working individually’ is similar to the
statement ‘A and B can do a work in 2 hours and 3 hours
respectively working individually’.

1
If a pipe fills a tank in 3 hours, then the pipe fills rd of the same
3
tank in 1 hour.

The only difference with the pipes and cisterns problems is that
there are inlets as well as outlets. Inlet is a pipe connected with a
tank (or a cistern or a reservoir) that fills it. Outlet is a pipe
connected with a tank (or a cistern or a reservoir) that empties it.
Hence, if we consider filling the tank by inlet as positive work, then
empting the tank by outlet will be considered as negative work.

Lets workout some solved examples based on Pipes & Cictens

problems which will help you to understand more about the
concept.

Solved Example 1:
A tank is three-fourths full. Pipe A can fill the tank in 16
minutes. Pipe B can empty it in 12 minutes. If both pipes are
open, how long will it take to empty the tank?

1
Solution Ex1: Pipe A can fill of the tank in 1 minute.
16

1
Pipe B can empty of the tank in 1 minute.
12

1 1 1
In 1 minute − = of the tank is emptied.
12 16 48

It would take 48 minutes to empty the whole tank.

3
However, the tank is only full.
4

3
So, it will take × 48 = 36 minutes to empty the tank.
4

Solved Example 2:
A certain tank can be filled by pipe A in 8 minutes. Pipe B can
empty the tank in 12 minutes. If both pipes are open, how
long will it take to fill or empty the tank?

1
Solution Ex2: Pipe A fills of the tank in 1 minute.
8

1
Pipe B empties of the tank in 1 minute.
12

1 1
Since is greater than , the tank will ultimately be filled.
8 12

1 1 1
In one minute − = of the tank is actually filled.
8 12 24

Therefore, the tank will be completely filled in 24 minutes.

Solved Example 3:
Two pipes can fill a tank with water in 15 and 12 hours
respectively, and a third pipe can empty it in 4 hours. If the
pipes be opened in order, at 8, 9 and 11 a.m. respectively, the
tank will be emptied at ?

3
Solution Ex3: Part filled by pipe A from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. =
15
1
=
5

2 1
Part filled by pipe B from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. = =
12 6
Part filled till 11 a.m.

1 1
= +
5 6

6 + 5 11
= =
30 30

At 11 a.m. pipe C is opened to empty it.

∴ Part of tank emptied in 1 hour

1 1 1
= − −
4 15 12

15 − 4 − 5
=
60

6 1
= =
60 10

11 11 10
∴ part will be emptied in × 30
30 30 1

11
= hours
3

i.e. in 3 hours 40 minutes or i.e., at 11.40 a.m.

Most Important 6 Key Points To Solve All Types

of Pipes & Cisterns Aptitude Problems:

Hint 1. If a pipe can fill a tank in x hours, then the part filled in
 1
1 hour =
x

Hint 2. If a pipe can empty a tank in y hours, then the part of

1
the full tank emptied in 1 hour=
y

Hint 3. If a pipe can fill a tank in x hours and another pipe can
empty the full tank in y hours (y > x), then the net part filled in

1 hour, when both the pipes are opened = (

1 1
−
x y )=
y−x
xy

xy
Time taken to fill the tank =
y−x

Hint 4. If a pipe can fill a tank in x hours and another pipe can
fill the same tank in y hours, the part of the tank filled in 1
hour when both pipes are opened simultaneously

(1 1
+
x y
= )
x+y
xy

Time taken to fill completely the tank when both pipes are
xy
open simultaneously =
x+y

Hint 5. If three pipes can fill a tank separately in x, y and z h

respectively, then time taken to fill the tank by working
xyz
together =
xy + yz + zx

Hint 6. If a pipe fills a tank in x hours and another fills the

same tank in y hours, but a third pipe empties the full tank in z
hours and all of them are opened together, the net part filled
 xy
in 1 hour =
y−x

xyz
Time taken to fill the tank = hours
yz + xz − xy

"9" - Important Aptitude Rules, Formulas & Quick

Tricks to Solve Pipes and Cisterns Based Aptitude
Problems
In this list of rules, you will get an idea that How to solve all
different types & kinds of Pipes and Cisterns based aptitude
problems asked in various competitive exams like UPSC, SSC,
Bank, and Railway examinations at all levels.

By using this method, you can able to solve all problems from basic
level to advanced level of questions asked based on Pipes and
Cisterns in a faster approch.

Let's discuss the rules one by one with all Pipes and Cisterns Rules
& Formulas with examples,

RULE 1 :

Two taps 'A' and 'B' can fill a tank in 'x' hours and 'y' hours
respectively. If both the taps are opened together, then how much
time it will take to fill the tank?
 Required time = ( x xy+ y ) hrs

RULE 2 :

If x, y, z, ........... all taps are opened together then, the time required
to fill/empty the tank will be:

1 1 1 1
± ± ± ... =
x y z T

Where T, is the required time

Note: Positive result shows that the tank is filling and Negative
result shows that the tank is getting empty.,

RULE 3 :

Two taps can fill a tank in 'x' and 'y' hours respectively. If both the
taps are opened together and 1st tap is closed before 'm' hours of
filling the tank, then in how much time the tank will be filled?

(x + m)y
Required time = hrs
(x + y)

If 2nd tap is closed before 'm' hours then,

(y + m)x
Required time = hrs
(x + y)
RULE 4 :

If a pipe fills a tank in 'x' hours but it takes 't' more hours to fill it
due to leakage in tank. If tank is filled completely, then in how
many hours it will be empty? [due to leakage outlet]

x(x + t)
Required time =
t

RULE 5 :

Amount of water released or filled = Rate × time.

RULE 6 :

Two taps 'A; and 'B' can empty a tank in 'x' hours and 'y' hours
respectively. If both the taps are opened together, then time taken
to empty the tank will be

Required time = ( xy
x+y )
hrs

RULE 7 :

A tap 'A' can fill a tank in 'x' hours and 'B' can empty the tank in 'y'
hours. Then
 (a) time taken to fill the tank

when both are opened = (

xy
x−y )
:x>y

(b) time taken to empty the tank

when both are opened =

xy
y−x ( :y>x )

RULE 8 :

Two taps A and B can fill a tank in x hours and y hours respectively.
If both the pipes are opened together, then the time after which
pipe B should be closed so that the tank is full in t hours

Required time = y 1– [ ( ) ] hours

t
x

RULE 9 :

If pipes A & B can fill a tank in time x, B & C in time y and C & A in
time z, then the time required/taken to fill the tank by

2xyz
(i) (A + B + C) together =
xy + yz + zx

2xyz
(ii) A alone =
xy + yz − zx

2xyz
(iii) B alone =
yz + zx − xy
 2xyz
(iv) C alone =
zx + xy − yz

3 - Types of Pipes and Cisterns Based Aptitude

Questions and Answers Practise Test With Online
Quiz
Click the below links & Learn the specific model from Pipes and
Cisterns problems that you have to practice for upcoming
examination

Model 1 Basic Pipes & Cisterns Problems

Model 2 Filling Tank By Parts Or Fractions

Model 3 Opening Both Taps And Leaks

Refer: Get all Topic-wsie Quantitative aptitude problems for

upcoming competitive exams

Pipes & Cisterns Practise Test »

PIPES & CISTERNS MCQ QUESTION & ANSWER EXERCISE

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PIPES & CISTERNS SHORTCUTS AND TECHNIQUES WITH

EXAMPLES

Model 1 Basic Pipes & Cisterns Problems

Defination & Shortcuts

Model 2 Filling Tank By Parts Or Fractions

Defination & Shortcuts

Model 3 Opening Both Taps And Leaks

Defination & Shortcuts

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