<PRE><B>Question 887057</B>
A contractor undertook a certain work to be done in 80 days and employed 72 men to do it.
 After 20 days he found that 1/3rd of the work has been finished.
 How many men should he dismiss in order that the work may be finished on the date agreed upon?
:
Find how many man-days when 72 men work 20 days
20 * 72 = 1440 man-days to do 1/3 of the job
:
2/3 of the job remains to be done, find how many days that requires
2 * 1440 = 2880 man-days
:
The contractor has 60 days left to finish the job.
Find how many men (m) needed, to complete 2880 man-days in 60 days
60m = 2880
m = 2880/60
m = 48 men required
:
Find how many can be laid off
72 - 48 = 24 men</PRE>