There is 108 bugs. There are ants and spiders. If there are 682 legs how many ants and how many spiders are there?

Question

this will have a variable in it.

Answer 1

Ants have 6 legs

Spiders have 8 legs

 

Let a = number of ants

Let s = number of spiders

 

a + s = 108      {equation 1)

6a + 8s = 682   {equation 2}

 

You can solve by elimination or substitution.

Let's use elimination.

Multiply equation 1 by -6 and add.

 

-6a - 6s = -648    {equation 1}(-6)

 6a + 8s = 682

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      2s = 34

      s = 17 spiders

 

ants = 108-17 = 91 ants