Adam has 13 hens and buffaloes.
These animals have 42 feet in all.
How many (a) hens and (b) buffaloes does Adam have?
| Number of hens |
Number of hens' legs |
Number of buffaloes |
Number of buffaloes' legs |
Total number of legs between
the hens and the buffaloes |
| 13 |
13 x 2 =
26 |
0 |
0 x 4 =
0 |
26 + 0 =
26 |
| 12 |
12 x 2 =
24 |
1 |
1 x 4 =
4 |
24 + 4 =
28 |
| 8 |
8 x 2 =
16 |
13 |
13 x 4 =
52 |
16 + 52 =
42 |
If all of the animals are hens,
the number of legs needed
= 13 x 2
= 26
Total number of extra legs
= 42 - 26
= 16
Difference in the number of legs between 1 buffalo and 1 hen
= 4 - 2
= 2
The number of extra legs belongs to the buffaloes.
Number of buffaloes
= 16 ÷ 2
= 8 (b)
Number of hens
= 13 - 8
= 5 (a)
Answer(s): (a) 5; (b) 8
