Three friends, Gerard, Rooney, and Ronaldson, work together to dig a hole.…

2023

Three friends, Gerard, Rooney, and Ronaldson, work together to dig a hole. Gerard alone can complete the work in 10 days, Rooney alone in 8 days, and all three together can complete it in 4 days. They earn a total of Rs. 1,200. If the money is divided in proportion to the work each person does, find Rooney's share.

  1. A.

    Rs. 480

  2. B.

    Rs. 165.51

  3. C.

    Rs. 500

  4. D.

    Rs. 600

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D

Concept: When several people work together and are paid in proportion to the work each contributes, the payment ratio equals the ratio of their individual work rates (rate = 1/time taken alone), not the ratio of their individual times.

  1. Gerard's work rate = 1/10 work per day.

  2. Rooney's work rate = 1/8 work per day.

  3. Combined rate of all three working together = 1/4 work per day.

  4. So Ronaldson's rate = 1/4 − 1/10 − 1/8. Taking LCM 40: 10/40 − 4/40 − 5/40 = 1/40 work per day.

  5. Ratio of individual rates, Gerard : Rooney : Ronaldson = 1/10 : 1/8 : 1/40 = 4 : 5 : 1 (multiplying through by 40).

  6. Sum of ratio parts = 4 + 5 + 1 = 10, so Rooney's share of the ratio is 5/10.

  7. Rooney's share = 5/10 × Rs. 1,200 = Rs. 600.

Cross-check: Gerard gets 4/10 × 1200 = Rs. 480, Rooney gets Rs. 600, and Ronaldson gets 1/10 × 1200 = Rs. 120. Sum = 480 + 600 + 120 = Rs. 1,200, matching the given total — confirming the split is correct.

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