Nick was surveying his field and saw some cows and ducks. Nick counted a total of 80 heads and 248 legs. Assuming there are no mutations in the animals, determine exactly how many ducks and cows he saw. Let
X represent the number of ducks and y represent the cows.
Total Equation:
Legs Equation:
How many ducks?
How many cows?

Answers:

Further explanation:

x+y = 80 is the total equation (ie the head count equation) since we assume each animal has 1 head, and there are 80 heads total.

That equation can be solved to y = 80-x after subtracting x from both sides.

The legs equation is 2x+4y = 248 because...

We're told there are 248 legs overall, so that's how we ended up with 2x+4y = 248

Let's plug y = 80-x into the second equation and solve for x.

2x+4y = 248

2x+4( y ) = 248

2x+4( 80-x ) = 248

2x+320-4x = 248

-2x+320 = 248

-2x = 248-320

-2x = -72

x = -72/(-2)

x = 36

There are 36 ducks

Now use this x value to find y

y = 80-x

y = 80-36

y = 44

There are 44 cows.

Check:

36 ducks + 44 cows = 80 animals total

36*2 + 44*4 = 72 + 176 = 248 legs total

The answers are confirmed.

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