Question

In a farmyard, there were some goats and some chickens. When their number was counted, it was found that there were 60 heads and 148 legs. How many goats and how many chickens were in the farmyard?

Answer 1

Let the number of goats be x and the number of chickens be y,

Here,

Each goat has 1 head and 4 legs,

Each chicken has 1 head and 2 legs.

According to the given conditions:

Total heads: x + y = 60     ...(1)

Total legs: 4x + 2y = 148     ...(2)

From equation (1),

y = 60 − x

Substitute y = 60 − x into equation (2):

4x + 2(60 − x) = 148

4x + 120 − 2x = 148

4x + (− 2x) = 148 − 120

2x = 28

x = `28/2`

∴ x = 14

Substitute x = 14 into equation (1):

y = 60 − 14

∴ y = 46

Hence, there are 14 goats and 46 chickens in the farmyard.