<|im_start|>system
You are a helpful assistant. You first think about the reasoning process in the mind and then provide the user with the answer. You should try to truely solve the question by yourself without cheating.  <|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
 Some men can do a work in 40 days. 12 men should leave the work at a certain point so that the entire work is completed in 40 days after they leave the work. They should leave after 18 days. How many men were initially working on the project? Show your work in <think> </think> tags. And return the final answer in <answer> </answer> tags.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
Let me solve this step by step.
<think>
user
27
Some men can do a work in 40 days. 12 men should leave the work at a certain point so that the entire work is completed in 40 days after they leave the work. They should leave after 18 days. How many men were initially working on the project?
test