The 10 people shovel 10,000 pounds per 10 days, or 10,000/10=<<10000/10=1000>>1000 pounds per day per 10 people.

And 1000 pounds per day per 10 people is 1000/10=<<1000/10=100>>100 pounds per day per person.

Half of ten people is 10/2=<<10/2=5>>5 people.

At 100 pounds per day per person, 5 people can shovel 5*100=<<5*100=500>>500 pounds per day.

Therefore, for 5 people to shovel 40,000 pounds, it will take 40,000/500=<<40000/500=80>>80 days.

# Answer

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If it takes 10 people 10 days to shovel 10,000 pounds of coal, how many days will it take half of these ten people to shovel 40,000 pounds of coal?
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80
If it takes 10 people 10 days to shovel 10,000 pounds of coal, how many days will it take half of these ten people to shovel 40,000 pounds of coal?
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