Adam has 16 chicken and cows.
These animals have 48 feet in all.
How many (a) cows and (b) chicken does Adam have?
| Number of chicken |
Number of chicken' legs |
Number of cows |
Number of cows' legs |
Total number of legs between
the chicken and the cows |
| 16 |
16 x 2 =
32 |
0 |
0 x 4 =
0 |
32 + 0 =
32 |
| 15 |
15 x 2 =
30 |
1 |
1 x 4 =
4 |
30 + 4 =
34 |
| 8 |
8 x 2 =
16 |
16 |
16 x 4 =
64 |
16 + 64 =
48 |
If all of the animals are chicken,
the number of legs needed
= 16 x 2
= 32
Total number of extra legs
= 48 - 32
= 16
Difference in the number of legs between 1 cow and 1 chicken
= 4 - 2
= 2
The number of extra legs belongs to the cows.
Number of cows
= 16 ÷ 2
= 8 (a)
Number of chicken
= 16 - 8
= 8 (b)
Answer(s): (a) 8; (b) 8
