Four pipes P,Q, R and S can fill a cistern in 20,25, 40 and 50 hours respectively.The first pipe P was opened at 6:00 am, Q at 8:00 am, R at 9:00 am and S at 10:00 am. when will the Cistern be full?

Efficiency of P= 100/20= 5% per hour  

Efficiency of Q= 100/25= 4% per hour  

Efficiency of R= 100/40= 2.5% per hour  

Efficiency of S=100/50= 2% per hour 

Cistern filled till 10 am by P, Q and R  

Till 10 . 00 am Pipe P filled 20 % Till 10 . 00 am Pipe Q filled 8 % Till 10 . 00 am Pipe R filled 2 . 5 % 30 . 5 %  

Thus, at 10 am pipe P,Q and R filled 30.5% of the cistern. 

Rest of cistern to be filled = 100 - 30.5 = 69.5%  

Now, the time taken by P,Q,R and S together to fill the remaining capacity of the cistern 

= 69.5 / (5+4+2.5+2) = 5 Hours and 9 minutes(approx).

Therefore, total time =4 hrs + 5hrs 9 mins = 9 hrs and 9 mins

It means cistern will be filled up at 3:09 pm