Question

In the barn, there are horses and chickens. There are 11 heads and 32 legs altogether. How many chickens are there?

A. 6
B. 5
C. 4
D. 3

Answer 1

6 Chickens

Explanation:

Let H represent the number of horses and C represent the number of chickens. Since there are 32 legs altogether this means that on equation to use would be given by:

2C + 4 H = 32 (Eq. 1)

Another equation can be made from the fact that there are 11 heads or 11 animals altogether which can be written as:

C + H = 11 (Eq. 2)

From Eq. 2, solve for the number of chickens:

C + H = 11

C = 11 - H (Eq. 3)

Substituting Eq. 3 in Eq. 1, the number of horses can be determined:

2 C + 4 H = 32

2 ( 11 − H ) + 4 H = 32

22 − 2 H + 4 H = 32

2H = 32 − 22

2 H = 10

H = 5 Eq.4

Putting Eq.4 in Eq.1

2C + 4*5 = 32

2C = 32 - 20

2C = 12

C = 12/2

C = 6