Murli can complete a task in 18 hours. Kanhaiya can do the same task in 24 hours. Together, they completed this task, whereby Murli started the work in the first hour with exactly one of them working in any given hour. If they divided the wages they earned for the task in the ratio 1 : 1, then in how many hours was the task completed?

To complete the task, the total required work is the Least Common Multiple of 18 and 24, which is 72 units. Murli completes 4 units per hour and Kanhaiya completes 3 units per hour. Since the wages are divided in a 1:1 ratio, they must do equal amounts of work, meaning each completes exactly 36 units. Working alone in alternate hours, it takes Murli 9 hours to finish his 36 units (9 hours * 4 units) and Kanhaiya 12 hours to finish his 36 units (12 hours * 3 units). The task is completed when Kanhaiya finishes his share at the 21-hour mark.

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