<|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
 A construction project which could be finished in 24 days by a team of workers was completed 5 days earlier after 8 more men with double the work rate joined the team on the 11th day and 5 men with triple the work rate joined on the 17th day. The initial number of men employed was? Also, consider the individual work rates of the men involved in 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
55
A construction project which could be finished in 24 days by a team of workers was completed 5 days earlier after 8 more men with double the work rate joined the team on the 11th day and 5 men with triple the work rate joined on the 17th day. The initial number of men employed was? Also, consider the individual work rates of the men involved in the project.
test