How many acorns did each animal hide?

Question

For a science project, billy observed a chipmunk and a squirrel stashing acorns in trees. The chipmunk hid 6 acorns in each tree. The squirrel hid 8 acorns in each tree. They each hid the same number of acorns, although the squirrel needed 4 fewer trees. Investigate the number of acorns each animal hid.

Answer 1

Let x = the number of trees the chipmunk hid acorns in

Number of acorns the chipmunk hid = number of acorns the squirrel hid

(#acorns)(# of trees) = total number of acorns

6x=8(x-4)

To solve distribute the 8 to both terms

6x=8x-32

Subtract 8x from both sides

6x-8x=8x-32-8x

Simplify

-2x=-32

Divide both sides by -2

-2x/-2=-32/-2

x=16 trees

Total # of acorns (both are equal as the problem states)

6(16) = 96 for the chipmunk

8(16-4) = 96 for the squirrel