SOLUTION: Two shepherds have sheep. One shepherd says to the other" You give me 4 of your sheep and we will both have the same amount. The second shepherd says" no, you give me 4 of your
Algebra.Com
Question 209576: Two shepherds have sheep. One shepherd says to the other" You give me 4 of your sheep and we will both have the same amount. The second shepherd says" no, you give me 4 of your sheep and I will have twice as many as you do. How many did they each start with?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Two shepherds have sheep. One shepherd says to the other" You give me 4 of your sheep and we will both have the same amount. The second shepherd says" no, you give me 4 of your sheep and I will have twice as many as you do. How many did they each start with?
:
Let x = original no. of sheep of the 1st shepherd
Let y = original no. of sheep of the 2nd shephert
:
"give me 4 of your sheep and we will both have the same amount."
x+4 = y-4
x = y -4 -4
x = y - 8
;
"you give me 4 of your sheep and I will have twice as many as you do."
y + 4 = 2(x-4)
y + 4 = 2x - 8
y = 2x - 8 - 4
y = 2x - 12
:
How many did they each start with?
:
Replace x with (y-8) in the above equation, find y
y = 2(y-8) - 12
y = 2y - 16 - 12
y = 2y - 28
y - 2y = -28
-y = - 28
y = 28 sheep originally owned by the 2nd shepherd
then
x = 28 - 8
x = 20 sheep originally owned by the 1st shepherd
:
:
Check solution in the the statement:
"give me 4 of your sheep and I will have twice as many as you do."
28 + 4 = 2(20-4)
32 = 2(16)
RELATED QUESTIONS
There are two shepherds talking amongst themselves. One says to the other, "Give me one... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)
If One sheepherder said to other sheepherder; give me ten of your sheep to have twice... (answered by stanbon)
one farmer has 119 sheep and another have 73 sheep, after they both sell the same number... (answered by josgarithmetic)
One farmer says to another farmer: “Give me one of your cows, and then I will have twice... (answered by emathwiz)
A shepherd had an unfortunate experience. He was looking after a number (n) of sheep... (answered by stanbon)
A shepherd had an unfortunate experience. He was looking after a number (n) of sheep when (answered by robertb)
My barn is only 20 feet wide and 10 feet long. It has 5 stables for my horses, all the... (answered by ikleyn,Alan3354,MathTherapy)
Farmer Sara has 14 more chickens than sheep. There is a total of 94 legs between the... (answered by Boreal)
Farmer Sara has 14 more chickens than sheep. There is a total of 94 legs between the... (answered by josgarithmetic)