24 men and 12 women can do a piece of work in 30 days. In how many days can 12 men and 24 women do the same piece of work?
- A.30 days
- B.More than 30 days
- C.Less than 30 days or more than 30 days
- D.Data is inadequate to draw any conclusion
▶ Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: D. Data is inadequate to draw any conclusion
To solve this problem, we need to establish the relative working capacity of men and women. Let's assume a man's work rate is 'm' and a woman's work rate is 'w'. The total work done by 24 men and 12 women in 30 days is (24m + 12w) * 30. We need to find the days (let's call it 'D') for 12 men and 24 women to do the same work, which is (12m + 24w) * D. For D to be determinable, the ratio of work rates (m/w) must be constant and known or derivable from the problem statement. Without information on the comparative efficiency of men and women, we cannot set up a solvable equation.
Source: UPSC csat 2022