Question

African Safari While on a safari in Africa I saw a small herd of zebras and cranes wandering over the grassland. I counted 18 heads in all and counted 60 legs. How many zebras were there and how many cranes

Answer 1

6 Cranes

Explanation:

Given

Animals: Zebra & Cranes

`Heads = 18`

`Legs = 60`

Required

Determine the number of Cranes

Represent Zebra with Z and Cranes with C

A Zebra has 1 head and 4 legs

A Crane has 1 head and 2 legs

So:

`Z + C = 18`

`4Z + 2C = 60`

Make Z the subject in the first equation

`Z = 18 - C`

Substitute 18 - C for Z in the second

`4(18 - C) + 2C = 60`

`72 - 4C + 2C = 60`

Collect Like Terms

`- 4C + 2C = 60 - 72`

`- 2C = -12`

`2C = 12`

Solve for C

`C= 12/2`

`C = 6`