Explanation:

Let’s break it down:

- 12 men + 16 boys finish work in 5 days. So, (12M + 16B) × 5 = 1 work

- 13 men + 24 boys finish in 4 days. So, (13M + 24B) × 4 = 1 work

- Set up equations:

- 60M + 80B = 1 (first group, 5 days)

- 52M + 96B = 1 (second, 4 days)

- Subtract first from second: (52M + 96B) - (60M + 80B) = 0

- (52-60)M + (96-80)B = 0 ? -8M + 16B = 0 ? M = 2B

- Plug back in: 60M + 80B = 1 ? 60×2B + 80B = 200B = 1 ? B = 1/200

- So, M = 2/200 = 1/100

- Now, 29 men + 22 boys = 29M + 22B work per day

- = 29×(1/100) + 22×(1/200) ? 29/100 + 11/100 ? 40/100 = 2/5 work per day

- So, total days = 1 ÷ (2/5) = 5/2 = 2.5 days

Here’s what the options mean:

- Option 1: 2.5 (That’s what we got)

- Option 2: 2.45 (Nope, doesn’t fit the math)

- Option 3: 2.6 (Again, math says no)

- Option 4: 2.4 (Close, but not quite)

Bottom line: it’s 2.5 days, so Option 1 is correct.