SOLUTION: I need help writing an algebraic expression. The problem gave me a riddle that I had to use. The riddle goes something like this... There are 4 time the number of horses than co

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Question 903516: I need help writing an algebraic expression. The problem gave me a riddle that I had to use. The riddle goes something like this...
There are 4 time the number of horses than cows.
There are 12 times as many chickens than cows.
The number of cows, plus pigs, plus horses equals the number of chickens.
The total number of animals is 54.
This is all I remember of the riddle but how would I make and algebraic expression for the number of cows???
Answer by josgarithmetic(39616) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
w chickens
x cows
y horses
z pigs

y%2Fx=4;
w%2Fx=12;
x%2Bz%2By=w;
w%2Bx%2By%2Bz=54.

Four equations (linear) and four unknown variables.
Which methods do you know?
Which method do you want to use?

The last two equations are interesting. You should be able to subtract one of them from the other to eliminate some variables to quickly solve for one variable, specifically for w. Arrange the form of these two equations as:
system%28-w%2Bx%2By%2Bz=0%2Cw%2Bx%2By%2Bz=54%29.
... without showing that work, one may see that highlight%28w=27%29.
...
Continue using whatever you know how to do.