Question

Once upon a time there was a farmer whose family raised pigs and chickens. If you counted 24 heads and 80 feet, how many chickens were there? How many pigs were there?

Answer 1

Number of chickens = 8

Number of pigs = 16

Explanation:

Let the pigs = p

Let the number of chickens = c

Number of heads = 24

p + c = 24 ----------------(I)

p= 24 - c

Number of feet = 80

Chicken has 2 legs and pig has 4 legs

4p + 2c = 80 --------------(II)

Substitute p = 24 - c in equation (II)

4*(24 - c) + 2c = 80

4*24 - 4*c + 2c = 80

96 - 4c + 2c = 80 {Combine like terms}

96 - 2c = 80 {subtract 96 from both sides}

-2c = 80 - 96

-2c = -16 {Divide both sides by (-2)}

c = -16/-2

c = 8

Plugin c = 8 in equation (I)

p + 8 = 24

p = 24 - 8

p = 16