Adam has 10 hens and sheep.
These animals have 32 feet in all.
How many (a) sheep and (b) hens does Adam have?
| Number of hens |
Number of hens' legs |
Number of sheep |
Number of sheep' legs |
Total number of legs between
the hens and the sheep |
| 10 |
10 x 2 =
20 |
0 |
0 x 4 =
0 |
20 + 0 =
20 |
| 9 |
9 x 2 =
18 |
1 |
1 x 4 =
4 |
18 + 4 =
22 |
| 6 |
6 x 2 =
12 |
10 |
10 x 4 =
40 |
12 + 40 =
32 |
If all of the animals are hens,
the number of legs needed
= 10 x 2
= 20
Total number of extra legs
= 32 - 20
= 12
Difference in the number of legs between 1 sheep and 1 hen
= 4 - 2
= 2
The number of extra legs belongs to the sheep.
Number of sheep
= 12 ÷ 2
= 6 (a)
Number of hens
= 10 - 6
= 4 (b)
Answer(s): (a) 6; (b) 4
