Official Solution:Three workers, A, B, and C, can complete a certain task in 10, 5, and \(x\) hours, respectively. A starts working alone, and after 2 hours, B joins. Two hours later, C joins them. At this point, A, B, and C work together and complete the task in 15 minutes. What is the value of \(x\)? A. \(1\)
B. \(1.25\)
C. \(2\)
D. \(2.5\)
E. \(4\)
After 2 hours, as only A works during this time, \(2*\frac{1}{10} = \frac{1}{5}\) of the task is completed.
After 4 hours, A and B together complete \(\frac{1}{5} + 2 * (\frac{1}{10} + \frac{1}{5}) = \frac{4}{5}\) of the task, leaving \(\frac{1}{5}\) of the task to be done.
We are told that the remaining \(\frac{1}{5}\) of the task is completed in 15 minutes (or 1/4th of an hour) by all three workers: \(\frac{1}{4} * (\frac{1}{10} + \frac{1}{5} + \frac{1}{x}) = \frac{1}{5}\). From this equation, we can find that \(x = 2\) hours.
Answer: C