Hi All,
In these types of 'rate' questions, it often helps to think in terms of the TOTAL work that must be done to complete the task. If a 10-man crew can complete the job in 110 days, then that means that (10)(110) = 1100 worker-days of effort are required to complete the job. That could be 1 worker working 1100 days, 2 workers working 550 days each, 2 workers working for 100 days and 90 other workers working for 10 days, etc.
We're told that there were 5 days of rain in the first 60 days, so the 10 workers worked for 55 days = (10)(55) = 550 worker-days of the 1100 required were completed. From that point on, there were 16 workers on the job each day; we can calculate how many days it would take those 16 workers to complete the task:
550/16 = 275/8 = 34 3/8 days needed to complete the job
We're told that the job was completed on day 100. Since that time period includes 100 - 60 = 40 days, and 35 (rounded up) days were needed to complete the work, then then 40 - 35 = 5 days were lost during that time due to rain.
Final Answer:
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich