SOLUTION: A rancher has some sheep and ostriches. His daughter observed that the animals have a total of 60 eyes and 86 feet. How many animals of each type does the rancher have? Show a solu

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Question 396085: A rancher has some sheep and ostriches. His daughter observed that the animals have a total of 60 eyes and 86 feet. How many animals of each type does the rancher have? Show a solution that uses a system of two linear equations.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let a = number of sheep she has
Let b = number of ostriches she has
given:
(1) 2a+%2B+2b+=+60
(2) 4a+%2B+2b+=+86
----------------
(1) +a+%2B+b+=+30
(2) +2a+%2B+b+=+43
Subtract (1) from (2)
(2) +2a+%2B+b+=+43
(1) +-a+-+b+=+-30
a+=+13
and, from (1),
13+%2B+b+=+30
b+=+17
The rancher has 13 sheep and 17 ostriches