a field contained horses and men. Sam counted 19 heads and 60 feet. How many horses were in the field?

Question

i do not know how to anwser it

Answer 1

Let m = men and h = horses.  Since there were 19 heads, and both men and horses only have one head each:

 

m + h = 19

 

Men have 2 feet, horses have 4:

 

2m + 4h = 60

 

Solve the system of equations:

-2(m + h = 19)

 2m + 4h = 60

-----------------

        2h = 22

        h = 11  There are 11 horses

 

m + h = 19

m + 11 = 19

m = 8     There are 8 men

 

Check:

m + h = 19

8 + 11 = 19

19 = 19   Check!

 

2m + 4h = 60

2*8 + 4*11 = 60

16 + 44 = 60

60 = 60     Check!

Answer 2

Hi "I am not saying from Brooklyn," let m represent the men and h represent the horses. Set up two equation and solve.

 

Equation 1, number of horses and men:

 

m + h = 19

 

Equation 2, number of feet:

 

2m + 4h = 60

 

Solve:

 

  m  +   h  = 19

2m  + 4h  = 60

-----------------

 

Multiple the first equation by -1 and add:

 

-2m  -  2h   = -38

 2m  + 4h   =  60

--------------------

 

2h = 22

 

h = 11

 

The number of horses is 11.

 

Substitute for horses in equation 1:

 

m + 11 = 19

 

m = 8

 

The number of men is 8.

 

The number of horses in the field is 11.

 

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