SOLUTION: A contractor undertook to build a building in 52 days and employed 24 men to work. Only 1/4 of the work was completed after 16 days. How many more men should be employed so that th

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Question 1171750: A contractor undertook to build a building in 52 days and employed 24 men to work. Only 1/4 of the work was completed after 16 days. How many more men should be employed so that the work is completed
within the fixed time?
Found 2 solutions by ankor@dixie-net.com, josgarithmetic:
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A contractor undertook to build a building in 52 days and employed 24 men to work.
Only 1/4 of the work was completed after 16 days.
How many more men should be employed so that the work is completed
within the fixed time?
:
Find how many man-days to complete 1/4 of the work
24 * 16 = 384 man days
Find how many man-days required to complete the remaining 3/4
3 * 384 = 1152 man-day
Let m = additional men required to do the job in the remaining 36 days
36(m+24) = 1152
36m + 864 = 1152
36m = 1152 - 864
36m = 288
m = 288/36
m = 8 more men working the remaining 36 days to complete the job

Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
r, rate of work 1 man
n, number of MORE men to help finish work

system%28%2824r%29%2816%29=1%2F4%2C%28n%2B24%29%28r%29%2852-16%29=3%2F4%29
.
.
A proportion can easily be made from those, simplified, and n solved-for.