The correct answer is (C):
Let x be the time, on a 24 hours clock, at which the tank is empty.
Time taken by pipe A alone to fill the tank is (20 – x) hrs.
Time taken by pipe B alone to fill the tank is (18 – x) hrs.
On the other day, A fill the tank for (15 – x) hrs and B for 2 hrs.
Let A and B be the rate of works of pipe A and B respectively.
⇒ (20-x)A = (18-x)B = (17-x)A+2B
⇒ A/B = 2/3
⇒ (20-x)2 = (18-x)3
⇒ (20-x)A = 1
Let (20-x)A = 1
A = 1/6
B = 1/4
When both work simultaneously, time taken
= 1/1/6+1/4 = 2.4hrs = 2hrs24min
The tank will be filled by 16: 24i.e..4: 24pm