Aunty Mellie has spiders and ants in her attic

Question

Aunty Mellie has spiders and ants in her attic. There are 152 legs and 22 heads. How many ants and how many spiders?

Answer 1

s + a = 22 (22 heads at one each)

8s + 6a = 152

 

Let's solve the first for s to substitute...

 

s = 22 - a

 

8(22 - a) + 6a = 152

176 - 8a + 6a = 152

2a = 24

a = 12

 

s = 22 - 12 = 10

 

Boom.