Question

Two farmers pay a total rent of $140 for a pasture. The first farmer placed $4 oxen in the pasture, and the second farmer placed $30 sheep in the pasture. The farmers split the rent based on the proportion of the pasture eaten by their own animals that month. How much should the first farmer pay, if 1 ox eats as much as 10 sheep in a month?

Answer 1

given that 1 ox eats as much as 10 sheep:

4 oxen = 40 sheep

therefore,

first farmer:  the equivalent of 40 sheep

second farmer:  30 sheep

that means 30+40 = 70 animals eating

$140 ÷ 70 = $2

so it is $2 per eat

2 x 40 = $80 for the first farmer's oxen

2 x 30 = $60 for the second farmer's sheep