Study Material — 2 PYQs (2021–2021) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts
SSC MTS Basic Time & Work is a frequently tested subtopic — 2 previous year questions from 2021–2021 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.
2 questions from actual SSC MTS papers · all shown free · click option to reveal solution
Exam Q 12021Previous Year Pattern
If 5 workers can build a wall in 20 days, how many days will 10 workers take to build the same wall?
Exam Q 22021Previous Year Pattern
Two workers, M and N, working together can complete a job in 6 days. If M works alone, he takes 9 days more than N. How many days does N take to complete the job alone?
Work is always considered as 1 unit (complete job). If A can complete work in 10 days, A's rate of work is 1/10 per day. This means A completes 1/10th of the total work each day
💡Key Rules
Work = Rate × Time. If multiple people work together, their rates add up. Total work is always 1 unit. Rate of work = 1/Time taken to complete the job
🔑Basic Formulas
- If A completes work in 'a' days, A's one day work = 1/a
- If A and B together complete work in 'd' days, (1/a + 1/b) = 1/d
- Time taken by A and B together = (a × b)/(a + b) days
- If A completes work in 'x' days and B in 'y' days, working together they complete in xy/(x+y) days
📊
Exam Patterns
What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
📋Common patterns include
two people working together, one person leaving midway, comparing efficiencies, and alternative work scenarios
⚡Shortcut Trick - LCM Method
Take LCM of all time periods given. This becomes total work. Then find individual rates by dividing LCM by individual time. This eliminates fractions and makes calculations faster
✏️Worked Example 1
1
A's one day work = 1/12
2
B's one day work = 1/18
3
Combined one day work = 1/12 + 1/18 = (3+2)/36 = 5/36
4
Time taken together = 36/5 = 7.2 days
Alternative (Shortcut): Time = (12 × 18)/(12 + 18) = 216/30 = 7.2 days
Worked Example 2: A and B together can complete work in 6 days. A alone can complete it in 10 days. In how many days can B alone complete the work?
1
Combined one day work = 1/6
2
A's one day work = 1/10
3
B's one day work = 1/6 - 1/10 = (5-3)/30 = 2/30 = 1/15
4
B alone can complete work in 15 days
Shortcut Formula: If A and B together complete work in T days and A alone in A days, then B alone takes: B = (A × T)/(A - T) days
Applying: B = (10 × 6)/(10 - 6) = 60/4 = 15 days
Most Common Trap: Students often add time instead of adding rates. Remember - when people work together, their RATES add up, not their TIME. If A takes 4 days and B takes 6 days, together they DON'T take 4+6=10 days. Instead, calculate 1/4 + 1/6 to find combined rate
⚠️Another Major Mistake
Forgetting that work is always 1 unit. Students sometimes assume work quantity changes, leading to wrong calculations. Always treat complete work as 1 unit regardless of the scenario
⚡Efficiency Trick
If A is twice as efficient as B, then A takes half the time B takes. If A:B efficiency ratio is 2:3, then their time ratio is 3:2 (inverse relationship)
→Negative Work Concept
Sometimes one person does work while another undoes it (like filling and emptying a tank). In such cases, subtract the rates instead of adding them.
Key Points to Remember
Work is always considered as 1 complete unit in all problems
Rate of work = 1/Time taken to complete the job alone
When working together, rates add up: 1/a + 1/b = 1/combined time
Combined time formula: (a × b)/(a + b) where a, b are individual times
LCM method eliminates fractions - take LCM of all given times as total work
Efficiency and time have inverse relationship - higher efficiency means less time
If A is n times efficient than B, then A takes 1/n times the time B takes
In problems with destructive work, subtract rates instead of adding
Never add individual times to get combined time - this is the biggest trap
Work = Rate × Time is the fundamental equation for all variations
Exam-Specific Tips
Combined work formula: Time = (a × b)/(a + b) days
If A and B work together for T days and A alone for remaining, use: 1 = T(1/a + 1/b) + remaining_time(1/a)
Efficiency ratio of 2:3 means time ratio of 3:2
If A completes work in 'a' days, A's rate = 1/a work per day
LCM method: Total work = LCM of all individual times
For pipes: Inlet rate positive, outlet rate negative
Work done = Rate × Time, where total work = 1 unit
If A can do work in x days and B in y days, together they need xy/(x+y) days
60-Second Revision — Basic Time & Work
Formula: Combined time = (a × b)/(a + b) for two people working together
Remember: Add RATES, never add TIME when people work together
Trap: Don't assume 4 days + 6 days = 10 days together
Quick method: Use LCM of times as total work to avoid fractions
Efficiency rule: Higher efficiency = Less time (inverse relation)
Standard approach: Find individual rates, add them, then find combined time
Check: Combined time should always be less than individual times