Question

A collection of animals including both birds and beasts has 43 heads and 120 feet how many based are there in the collection

Answer 1

Explanation:

x = number of birds

y = number of beasts

x + y = 43 (as each of these creatures had only 1 head).

2x + 4y = 120 (birds have 2 feet, beasts 4 feet).

x + 2y = 60 (divided both sides by 2)

so, second equation minus the first equation is

(x-x) + (2y-y) = 60-43

y = 17

x + y = 43

x + 17 = 43

x = 26

so, there are 17 beasts and 26 birds.