Work Problem

Presented By: April Rose M. Esolan

Work Problems are word problems that involve
different people doing work together but at different
rates.

Work problems have direct real-life applications.

We often need to determine how many people are
needed to complete a task within a given time.
Alternatively, given a limited number of workers, we
often need to determine how long it takes to finish a
project.
The goal of a “working together” problem is generally
to figure how fast a job can be completed if two or
more workers complete the job together as well as
how fast can one or two pipes can filled in the tank.

Work Problem involves :

Two persons.
More than two persons.
Pipe filling up and draining tanks.
The formula for “Work” Problems that
involve two persons is:

1 1 1
+ =
𝑥 𝑦 𝑡
Claudine and Kai have to stuff and mail envelops
for a new marketing campaign. Claudine can do
the job alone in 6 hours while Kai can do the
same job in 12 hours. How long would it take
the both of them to finish the job?
Given:
Completed part of a job per hour:
Hours to complete the job:
1
 Claudine
 Claudine 6 hours 6

1
Kai 12 hours  Kai
12
1
Together T Together 𝑇
Step 1: Assign variable.

Let X be the hours Claudine finished the job.

Let Y be the hours Kai finished the job.
Let T be the hours Claudine and Kai finished the job.

Step 2 : Use the Formula.

1 1 1
+ =
𝑥 𝑦 𝑡
Step 3 : Solve the Equation.

1 1 1
+ = Substitute the given values.
6 12 𝑡
 1 1 1
12𝑇 ( + = ) 12𝑇 Find the LCD and multiply it both sides.
6 12 𝑇

2𝑇 + 𝑇 = 12 Simplify and combine like terms.

3𝑇 = 12

1 1 1
(3𝑇 = 12) Multiply both sides by
3
3 3
12
𝑇=
3

𝑇=4

Therefore, it would take 4 hours to finish their job if they work together.
Paul, Alex and Drew can finish painting the fence
in 3 hours. If Paul takes 7 hours to finish
painting the fence alone and Alex takes 9 hours.
How long will it takes for Drew to finish the job
alone?
Given:
Hours to complete the job: Completed part of a job per hour:
1
Paul 7 hours Paul
7
1
 Alex 9 hours  Alex
9
 Andrew Z  Andrew 1
𝑍
Together 3 hours Together 1
3
Step 1: Assign variable.

Let X be the hours Paul finished the job.

Let Y be the hours Alex finished the job.
Let Z be the hours Drew finished the job.
Let T be the hours Drew finished the job.

Step 2 : Use the Formula.

1 1 1 1
+ + =
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 𝑡
Step 3 : Solve the Equation.

1 1 1 1
+ + = Substitute the given values.
7 9 𝑧 3
 1 1 1 1 Find the LCD and multiply
63𝑧( + + = )63𝑧 it both sides.
7 9 𝑧 3

9z + 7z + 63 = 21𝑧 Simplify and combine like

terms.
16z + 63 = 21𝑧
Apply Addition Property
16𝑧 − 16𝑧 + 63 = 21𝑧 − 16𝑧 of Equality.

63 = 5𝑧

1 1 1
(63 = 5𝑧) Multiply both sides by .
5 5 5
63 3
=𝑧 𝑧 = 12 Z= 12 Hours and 36 Minutes
5 5

Therefore, it takes 12 Hours and 36 minutes in order for Drew o finish the job.
A tank can be filled by pipe A in
3 hours and by pipe B in 5
hours. When the tank is full it
takes 4 hours to drain the
water. If the tank is initially
empty and all the 3 pipes are
open, how long would it take to
fill the tank in hours?
Given:

Pipe A 3 hours
Pipe B 5 hours
Pipe C 4 hours
All Pipes T

Step 1: Assign variable.

Let X be the hours Pipe A can filled the Tank.

Let Y be the hours Pipe B can filled the Tank..
Let Z be the hours Pipe C can drained the Tank.
Let T be the total of hours to fill in the tank when all the
pipes are open.
.
 Step 2 : Use the Formula.

1 1 1 1
+ + =
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 𝑡

Step 3 : Solve the Equation.

1 1 1 1
+ − = Substitute the given values.
3 5 4 𝑡

1 1 1 1 Find the LCD and multiply it both

60𝑡( + − = )60𝑡
3 5 4 𝑡 sides.

20t + 12t − 15𝑡 = 60

32t − 15t = 60 Simplify and combine like terms.

 17t = 60

1 1 1
Multiply both sides by .
(17t = 60) 17
17 17

60 9
𝑡= 𝑜𝑟 𝑡 = 3 T= 3 Hours and 32 Minutes
17 17

Therefore, if the tank is initially empty and

all the 3 pipes are open it takes 3 hours to
fill in the tank.
Practice

Now it’s your turn to

SOLVE !
 QUIZ #1

A tank is filled with an intake pipe that

will fill it in 4 hours and an outlet pipe
that will empty it in12 hours . If both
pipes are left open, how long will it take
to fill the empty tank?
 QUIZ #2

Andy can mow the lawn in 40 minutes

and John can mow the lawn in 60
minutes. How long will it take for them
to mow the lawn together?
QUIZ #3
There are three laborers, the first
laborer can finished a job in 4 days
while the second laborer can finish a
job in 6 days. If the three laborers
works together they can finished the
job in 2 days, how long will it take for
the third laborer to finished the job
alone?
Thank you

for

LISTENING