36.1k views
1 vote
While visiting a friend's home, I saw kittens and children playing in the backyard. Counting heads, I got 11.

Counting feet, I got 32. How many kittens and how many children were in the backyard? (Hint: Use a
Variable)

User Chuck R
by
8.1k points

1 Answer

5 votes

Answer:

5 kittens and 6 children

Explanation:

We can use variables to find the number of kittens (K) and children (C)

each kitten will have 4 legs and each child will have 2.

You can make two equations like so:

4k+2c=32

k+c=11

You then can use the substitution method to solve for both variables:

k+c=11

Subtract k from each side:

c=11-k

Substitute this into the other equation:

4k+2(−k+11)=32

Solve for k:

4k-2k+22=32

2k=10

k=5

Then use this in one of the equations to find the other variable:

k+c=11

5+c=11

Rewrite this to make it easier:

11-5=c

c=6

k=5 and c=6

you can check this by substituting each of these value to make sure the equations are true:

k+c=11

5+6=11

11=11

4k+2c=32

4(5)+2(6)=32

20+12=32

32=32

They both check right, so

c=6 and k=5

are your answers.

There are 5 kittens and 6 children in the backyard

There is your answer

Hope this helps!

User Qbik
by
8.3k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.