Question 33180
Steve Data:
 time=x-2 hrs/job  rate = 1/(x-2) job/hr
Gary Data:
 time= x hrs/job   rate= 1/x job/hr
Working together Data:
 time= 10 hrs/job  rate=1/10 job/hr.
EQUATION:
rate + rate = 1/10
1/(x-2) + 1/x = 1/10
10x +10(x-2)= x(x-2)
20x-20 = x^2-2x
x^2-22x+20=0
*[invoke quadratic "x",1,-22,20]
From this you see x=21.05 hrs (amount of time Gary requires to do the job alone. It can't be x=0.95 for then Steve's time(x-2) would be negative.
Cheers,
Stan H.