SOLUTION: There are 15 animals in the field. Some are sheep and some are chickens. There are 40 legs in all. How many of each animal are in the field?

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Question 925454: There are 15 animals in the field. Some are sheep and some are chickens. There are 40 legs in all. How many of each animal are in the field?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hints:

x = number of sheep
y = number of chickens

15 animals total: x+y = 15
40 legs in all: 4x+2y = 40

So you need to solve this system

system%28x%2By+=+15%2C4x%2B2y+=+40%29

it might help to solve equation 1 for y to get y+=+15-x and then plug that into equation 2 to get 4x%2B2%2815-x%29=40. Solve for x and then use that to find y.