Maths question from Social Forest Worker exam, 2026 by JKSSB
A contractor assigns a task to two workers, A and B. Worker A can complete the work in x days, while worker B takes 5 days more than A. Working together, they can finish the task in 6 days. Find the value of x.
Last updated Jul 21, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option C —
10
1. Define Daily Work Rates
Worker A completes the task in x days, which means worker A completes 1 over x of the task per day.
Worker B takes 5 days longer, which is x plus 5 days, meaning worker B completes 1 over x plus 5 of the task per day.
Working together, they finish the task in 6 days, making their combined daily work rate 1 over 6.
2. Combine Rates and Simplify
Adding their individual daily rates together gives 1 over x plus 1 over x plus 5, which equals 1 over 6.
Combining the left side over a common denominator gives two x plus 5 over x squared plus 5 x, equal to 1 over 6.
Cross-multiplying to eliminate the fractions gives 6 times two x plus 5, which equals x squared plus 5 x.
Expanding the left side gives 12 x plus 30 equals x squared plus 5 x.
Moving all terms to one side gives the quadratic equation: x squared minus 7 x minus 30 equals 0.
3. Solve for x
Factoring this equation yields x minus 10 times x plus 3 equals 0.
This provides two possible values for x: 10 or negative 3.
Since time in days cannot be negative, x must be 10.
Conclusion
Correct Answer: C) 10
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
