Without using algebra, just basic math.  Were you supposed to
use algebra? If so post again or email me.

Rule:
If you start with this:

W workers can do J jobs in H hours.

Then if you multiply or divide any two of the quantities
W, J, and H each by any positive number, leaving the third 
quantity as it is, then the resulting statement will be 
true. 

8 stock clerks can stock 26,000 cans in 10 hrs.
 
To see what 1 stock clerk can do, let's divide the quantities 
8 and 26,000 by 8, leaving the 10 hours as it is:  

1 stock clerks can stock 3250 cans in 10 hrs.

Now to see what 5 stock clerks can do, let's multiply the quantities 
1 and 3250 by 5, leaving the 10 hours as it is.

5 stock clerks can stock 16,250 cans in 10 hrs.

Hey, we need go no further, because it just so happened that 
that accidentally turned out to be the desired number, 16,250 
cans. (That won't just happen in most problems, but it did 
here!!)

So the answer is 10 hours.

Edwin 
AnlytcPhil@aol.com