Question

The farmer walks by the pen with the chickens and pigs. He counts 18 heads and 50 feet. How many of each, chicken and pigs, are there?

Answer 1

chickens = 11

pigs = 7

Explanation:

this would be solved using simultaneous equation

let c = chicken .

p = pigs

A normal pig and chicken both have 1 head. thus :

c + p = 18 equation 1

A normal pig has 4 legs and a normal chicken has 2 legs. Thus

2c + 4p = 50 equation 2

multiply equation 1 by 2

2c + 2p = 36 equation 3

subtract equation 3 from 2

2p = 14

p = 7

substitute for p in equation 1

c + 7 = 18

c = 11