SOLUTION: There are 46 legs on animals at the zoo. There are two more animals with 2 legs than animals with 4 legs. How many animals have 2 legs and how many have 4 legs. I know the answe

Algebra ->  Distributive-associative-commutative-properties -> SOLUTION: There are 46 legs on animals at the zoo. There are two more animals with 2 legs than animals with 4 legs. How many animals have 2 legs and how many have 4 legs. I know the answe      Log On


   

Question 778206: There are 46 legs on animals at the zoo. There are two more animals with 2 legs than animals with 4 legs. How many animals have 2 legs and how many have 4 legs. I know the answer is 9 animals with 2 legs and 7 animals with 4 legs but how do I write and equation to solve this.
Found 2 solutions by josmiceli, stanbon:
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +a+ = number with 2 legs
Let +b+ = number with 4 legs
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(1) +2a+%2B+4b+=+46+
(2) +a+=+b+%2B+2+
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Substitute (2) into (1)
(1) +2%2A%28+b+%2B+2+%29+%2B+4b+=+46+
(1) +2b+%2B+4+%2B+4b+=+46+
(1) +6b+=+42+
(1) +b+=+7+
and
+a+=+b+%2B+2+
+a+=+9+
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There are 9 with 2 legs and 7 with 4 legs

Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
There are 46 legs on animals at the zoo. There are two more animals with 2 legs than animals with 4 legs. How many animals have 2 legs and how many have 4 legs. I know the answer is 9 animals with 2 legs and 7 animals with 4 legs but how do I write and equation to solve this.
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Quantity Equation:: t = f + 2
Legs Equation::::: 2t + 4f = 46
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Substitute for "t" and solve for "f":
2(f+2) + 4f = 46
6f = 42
f = 7 (# of animals with 4 legs)
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Solve for "t":
t = f+2
t = 9 (# of animas with 2 legs)
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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