Question

A farmer has both cows and chickens. He keeps track

of them by counting legs and heads. If he counts 78
legs and 35 heads, how many chickens does he have?

Answer 1

31 chickens

Explanation:

Each cow has 4 legs (4x) Each chicken has 2 legs (2y) if there are 35 heads that means that in total there are 35 animals. Important to note is the 78 legs

Imma be honest, i just used guess and check.

20 cows = 80 legs, that's too much

18 cows = 72 legs, plus 34 from the 17 chickens, too much

15 cows = 60 legs. that'd be 20 chickens for 40, still too much

12 cows = 48 legs. that'd be 23 chickens, 46 legs. that still adds too to much

10 cows = 40 legs, with 25 chickens that be 50, still, to much

8 cows = 32 legs, with 27 chickens that's 54 legs for a total of 86, still, too much

6 cows = 24 legs, with 29 chickens that 59 legs for a total of 83.

4 cows = 16 legs, with 31 chickens that's 62 legs, total is 78. there we go.

4 cows, 31 chickens.

Is it the right way? no. But it's how I do it.

-- Gage Millar, Algebra 1/2, Geometry, Pre-Calc Tutor