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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Correct Answer: 32

Solution and Explanation

The efficiencies of Amar, Akbar, and Anthony are provided as follows:

  • Amar and Akbar can complete a project jointly in 1 year (12 months).
  • Akbar and Anthony can complete a project jointly in 16 months.
  • Anthony and Amar can complete a project jointly in 2 years (24 months).

Step 1: Formulating Equations

Let \(x\), \(y\), and \(z\) represent the efficiencies of Amar, Akbar, and Anthony, respectively.

The given information translates to these equations:

  • Combined efficiency of Amar and Akbar: \[ x + y = 112 \quad \text{(Equation 1)} \]
  • Combined efficiency of Akbar and Anthony: \[ y + z = 116 \quad \text{(Equation 2)} \]
  • Combined efficiency of Anthony and Amar: \[ z + x = 124 \quad \text{(Equation 3)} \]

Step 2: Summing the Equations

Adding all three equations reveals a relationship between \(x\), \(y\), and \(z\):

\[ (x + y) + (y + z) + (z + x) = 112 + 116 + 124 \]

Simplification yields:

\[ 2(x + y + z) = 352 \]

Therefore:

\[ x + y + z = \frac{352}{2} = 332 \]

Step 3: Calculating Individual Efficiencies

Individual efficiencies \(x\), \(y\), and \(z\) are found by combining the sum equation with the original ones:

  • From \(x + y = 112\) (Equation 1): \[ x = 332 - 116 = 132 \]
  • From \(y + z = 116\) (Equation 2): \[ y = 332 - 124 = 208 \]
  • From \(z + x = 124\) (Equation 3): \[ z = 332 - 112 = 220 \]

Step 4: Identifying the Intermediate Worker

The individual efficiencies are:

  • Amar's efficiency \(x = 132\)
  • Akbar's efficiency \(y = 208\)
  • Anthony's efficiency \(z = 220\)

Amar's efficiency (\(x = 132\)) is neither the highest nor the lowest. Thus, Amar is the worker who is neither the fastest nor the slowest.

Step 5: Calculating Amar's Solo Project Duration

The time required for an individual to complete the project is the reciprocal of their efficiency:

\[ \text{Time} = \frac{1}{\text{Efficiency}} = \frac{1}{x} \]

Substituting \(x = 132\):

\[ \text{Time} = \frac{1}{132} \quad \Rightarrow \quad \text{Time} = 32 \text{ months}. \]

Conclusion

Amar will complete the project independently in 32 months.

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