There are a total of 621 donkeys, buffaloes, ducks and chickens at a farm. The number of ducks was 357 more than the number of donkeys. The total number of buffaloes and chickens was 4 times the number of donkeys.

1. How many buffaloes and chickens were there at the farm?
2. The total number of legs for all the buffaloes and chickens was 668. How many buffaloes were there in the farm?

(a)
Number of donkeys = 1 u
Number of buffaloes and chickens = 4 u
Number of ducks = 1 u + 357

Total number of animals
= 1 u + 4 u + 1 u + 357
= 6 u + 357

6 u + 357 = 621
6 u = 621 - 357
6 u = 264

1 u = 264 ÷ 6 = 44

Number of buffaloes and chickens
= 4 u
= 4 x 44
= 176

(b)

Number of buffaloes	Number of buffaloes' legs	Number of chickens	Number of chickens' legs	Total
176	176 x 4 = 704	0	0	704
175	175 x 4 = 700	1	1 x 2 = 2	702
158	158 x 4 = 632	18	18 x 2= 36	668

Total number of buffaloes and chickens = 176

Total number of legs if all of them are buffaloes
= 176 x 4 
= 704

Big difference in the total number of legs between the buffaloes and the chickens
= 704 - 668
= 36

Small difference in number of legs between one buffalo and one chicken
= 4 - 2 
= 2

Number of chickens
= 36 ÷ 2 
= 18

Number of buffaloes
= 176 - 18
= 158

Answer(s): (a) 176; (b) 158