8 taps are fitted in a tank in which some are inlet taps and some are outlet taps. Each inlet tap can fill the tank in 15 hours and each outlet tap can empty the tank in 30 hours. Find the number of inlet taps if the whole tank is filled in 3 hours when all 8 taps are open.
8 taps are fitted in a tank in which some are inlet taps and some are outlet taps. Each inlet tap can fill the tank in 15 hours and each outlet tap can empty the tank in 30 hours. Find the number of inlet taps if the whole tank is filled in 3 hours when all 8 taps are open. Correct Answer 6
Given:
Total number of taps = 8
Time taken by each inlet tap to fill the tank = 15 hours
Time taken by each outlet tap to empty the tank = 30 hours
Total time taken to fill the tank = 3 hours
Concept used:
Total work = Time taken × Efficiency
And, Total efficiency = efficiency of inlet taps – efficiency of outlet taps
Calculation:
Let total number of inlet taps be x
Total number of outlet taps be (8 – x)
L.C.M of 15 and 30 = 30 units = Total work
Total time taken to fill the tank = 3 hours
Efficiency of all 8 taps = 30/3 = 10 units
Efficiency of each inlet tap = 30/15 = 2 units
Now, Efficiency of x inlet taps = 2x
Efficiency of each outlet tap = 30/30 = 1 unit
Efficiency of (8-x) outlet taps = (8-x)
So, Total efficiency of 8 taps = efficiency of inlet taps – efficiency of outlet taps
⇒ Total efficiency of 8 taps = 2x – (8 – x)
So, 2x – (8 – x) = 10
⇒ 3x – 8 = 10
⇒ 3x = 18
⇒ x = 6
∴ The number of inlet taps is 6