Question 74954

Let x=number of ladybugs--------------------------ladybugs have 6 legs
And y=number of spiders------------------------spiders have 8 legs

Now we are told that(number of bugs):

x+y=27------------------------eq 1 (subtract y from both sides)
x=27-y

Now we are also told that(number of legs):
6x+8y=194-----------------------eq 2

We'll solve by substitution.  Substitute x=27-y from eq 1 into eq 2

6(27-y)+8y=194  get rid of parens
162-6y+8y=194   subtract 162 from both sides

162-162-6y+8y=194-162  collect like terms
2y=32  divide both sides by 2

y=16-------------------------------------------# of spiders
substitute y=16 into eq 1 and we have:

x=27-16=11--------------------------------------# of ladybugs

CK

11*6+16*8=194
66+128=194
194=194

Hope this helps------ptaylor