Question

A farmer has a total of 21 cows and chickens altogether The animals have 54 legs how many cows and how many chickens does the farmer have?

Answer 1

Answer:

The farmer has 4 cows and 15 chickens.

Step-by-step explanation:

This question can be solved using a system of equations.

I am going to say that:

x is the number of cows

y is the number of chickens.

A farmer has a total of 21 cows and chickens altogether

This means that x + y = 21.

The animals have 54 legs

A cow has four legs, while a chicken has 2 legs. So

4x + 2y = 54.

From the first equation:

y = 21 - x

Replacing

4x + 2(21 - x) = 54

4x + 42 - 2x = 54

2x = 12

x = 6

y = 21 - x = 21 - 6 = 15

The farmer has 4 cows and 15 chickens.