Comparison of the work done by the individual / group w.r.t. time

An in-depth guide on comparing work done by individuals or groups relative to time for CBSE Class 11 Applied Mathematics, covering unitary methods, work rates, and efficiency problems.

Fundamental Concept of Work and Time

Work done is directly proportional to the number of people working and the time taken. If a person takes 'n' days to complete a task, their work rate is 1/n of the task per day. When comparing two entities, the ratio of work done is inversely proportional to the ratio of time taken, assuming the effort remains constant.

Work = Rate × Time; If 1 unit of work is completed in 'n' days, then Work Rate = 1/n per day.
Example 1: A can finish a task in 10 days and B can finish the same task in 15 days. How long will they take if they work together?
Show Step-by-Step Solution

• Calculate A's daily work rate: 1/10.
• Calculate B's daily work rate: 1/15.
• Sum the rates: 1/10 + 1/15 = (3+2)/30 = 5/30 = 1/6.
• The time taken is the reciprocal of the combined rate: 6 days.

Answer: They will finish the task together in 6 days.

The Unitary Method for Groups

When dealing with groups of people, we use the principle that the product of workers (M), days (D), and hours (H) per unit of work (W) is constant, provided the efficiency remains the same. This allows us to equate scenarios using the M1D1/W1 = M2D2/W2 formula.

M1 × D1 / W1 = M2 × D2 / W2
Example 1: If 12 men can complete a project in 20 days, how many men are required to complete the same project in 15 days?
Show Step-by-Step Solution

• Identify variables: M1=12, D1=20, D2=15.
• Set up the equation: 12 * 20 = M2 * 15.
• Solve for M2: M2 = (12 * 20) / 15.
• Calculate: M2 = 240 / 15 = 16.

Answer: 16 men are required to complete the project in 15 days.