Civil Services Examination · Question 45
A set (X) of 20 pipes can fill 70% of a tank in 14 minutes. Another set (Y) of 10 pipes fills 3/8th of the tank in 6 minutes. A third set (Z) of 16 pipes can empty half of the tank in 20 minutes. If half of the pipes of set X are closed and only half of the pipes of set Y are open, and all pipes of the set (Z) are open, then how long will it take to fill 50% of the tank?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (D) 16 minutes
Explanation
Per pipe per minute: X 1/400, Y 1/160, Z 1/640 (emptying). Net = 10/400 + 5/160 - 16/640 = 1/32 of the tank per minute, so 50% takes 16 minutes. (Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.)