For the combination in series;
⇒R1 = 35kΩ + 40kΩ = 75kΩ R is combined with 75kΩ in parallel to give 25kΩ = 1Req = 1R + 1R = 125 = 1R + 175 = 125 - 175 + 1R
= 3−175 = 1R = 275 = 1R = 752 = R
; R = 37.5k Ω