Question:medium

Amar, Akbar and Anthony are working on a project. Working together Amar and Akbar can complete the project in 1 year, Akbar and Anthony can complete in 16 months, Anthony and Amar can complete in 2 years. If the person who is neither the fastest nor the slowest works alone, the time in months he will take to complete the project is

Updated On: Jan 15, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Let the total work be \( 48 \) units. Let Amar's monthly work be \( m \), Akbar's monthly work be \( k \), and Anthony's monthly work be \( n \).

Step 1: Establishing the equations

Amar and Akbar together complete the project in \( 12 \) months. Their combined monthly work is: \[ \frac{48}{12} = 4 \, \text{units}. \] This yields the equation: \[ m + k = 4 \quad \text{…… (i)}. \] Similarly, for Akbar and Anthony: \[ k + n = 3 \quad \text{…… (ii)}. \] And for Amar and Anthony: \[ m + n = 2 \quad \text{…… (iii)}. \]

Step 2: Solving the system of equations

The system of equations is: \[ m + k = 4 \quad \text{(i)} \] \[ k + n = 3 \quad \text{(ii)} \] \[ m + n = 2 \quad \text{(iii)}. \] Solving these equations: - From equation (i), \( k = 4 - m \). - Substituting into equation (ii): \( (4 - m) + n = 3 \Rightarrow n = 3 - 4 + m \Rightarrow n = m - 1 \). - Substituting \( n = m - 1 \) into equation (iii): \( m + (m - 1) = 2 \Rightarrow 2m - 1 = 2 \Rightarrow 2m = 3 \Rightarrow m = \frac{3}{2} \). - Substituting \( m = \frac{3}{2} \) into \( k = 4 - m \): \( k = 4 - \frac{3}{2} = \frac{8}{2} - \frac{3}{2} = \frac{5}{2} \). - Substituting \( m = \frac{3}{2} \) into \( n = m - 1 \): \( n = \frac{3}{2} - 1 = \frac{3}{2} - \frac{2}{2} = \frac{1}{2} \).

Step 3: Time taken to complete the work

Amar completes \( \frac{3}{2} \) units of work per month. To complete the total 48 units of work, the time required is: \[ \text{Time} = \frac{48}{\frac{3}{2}} = 48 \times \frac{2}{3} = 16 \times 2 = 32 \, \text{months}. \]

Final Answer:

The time taken to complete the work is \( \boxed{32} \) months.

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