Question

Ling has some chickens and rabbits. There are 22 feet and 8 heads in all. How many chickens and rabbits does Ling have? Remember: She can only have 8 animals and that chickens have 2 feet and rabbits have 4.

Answer 1

Answer: Chickens= 5

Rabbits= 3

Explanation:

Let the number of chickens be y

Let the number of rabbits be z.

There are 8 animals and chicken has 2 feet while rabbits have 4 feet. This can be expressed mathematically as:

y+z= 8. ............ i

2y+4z= 22......... iI

Multiply equation I by 2

Multiply equation ii by 1

2y+2z= 16 ...........iii

2y+4z= 22 ........... iv

Subtract equation iv from iii

-2z = -6

Divide both side by 2

Z= 6/2 = 3

There are 3 rabbits

From equation I,

y+z= 8

Since z= 3

y= 8-3 =5

There are 5 chickens.

There are 5 chickens and 3 rabbits

Answer 2

There are 5chickens and 3 rabbits

Explanation:

Number of heads = 8

Number of feets = 22

x+ y = 8--------1

2x + 4y = 22-----2

Where X is chicken and y is rabbits

Solving both equation simultaneously,

From equation 1, x = 8-y, substitute the expression in eqn 2

2(8-y) + 4y = 22

2y = 6

Y = 3

X = 8-3 = 5