Question 1184830
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The total number of cattle, 660, is an increase of 10% over the total last year:<br>
{{{660 = 1.10x}}}
{{{x=660/1.10=600}}}<br>
The total number of cattle last year was 600.<br>
The total of 660 is an decrease in 10% of the number of cows and an increase of 50% in the number of bulls.<br>
Let c and b be the numbers of cows and bulls last year. Then<br>
(1) the total number of cattle last year was 600:
{{{c+b=600}}}<br>
(2) the total number this year is 660:
{{{0.9c+1.5b=660}}}<br>
Multiply (2) by 10 to get rid of the decimals
{{{9c+15b=6600}}}<br>
Multiply (1) by 9 to eliminate c:
{{{9c+9b=5400}}}
{{{6b=1200}}}
{{{b=200}}}<br>
ANSWERS: The number of bulls at the farm last year was b=200; the number of cows at the farm last year was 600-200=400.<br>