80.4k views
2 votes
there are multiple chickens and rabbits in a cage there are 72 heads and 200 feet inside of the cage how many chickens are in there and how many rabbits

User Rahul Vyas
by
8.0k points

1 Answer

6 votes
The answer is 44 chickens and 28 rabbits.

We have a system of two equations.
x - the number of rabbits
y - the number of chickens

Both chicken and rabbit have only 1 head, so the first equation is: x + y = 72.
Since rabbits have 4 legs and chickens 2 legs, the second equation is: 4x + 2y = 200.

Now, let's solve the system:
x + y = 72
4x + 2y = 200
___________
y = 72 - x
⇒ 4x + 2 · (72 - x) = 200
4x + 2 · 72 - 2 · x = 200
4x + 144 - 2x = 200
2x + 144 = 200
2x = 200 - 144
2x = 56
⇒ x = 56 ÷ 2 = 28
So, there are 28 rabbits.

Since
y = 72 - x = 72 - 28 = 44,
there are 44 chickens.

User Josh Rutherford
by
8.1k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories