PROBLEM 1

In a huge cage, there are 88 animals which are ducks and cows. The sum of the number of their legs are 200. How many ducks and cows are in the cage actually?

STRATEGY 1:

GUESS AND CHECK

STEP 1: Understand the problem How many animals in the cage? ( the sum of number of all ducks and cows are 88) How many legs are there in the cage? ( the sum of the number of cowss legs and duckss legs: 200) How many number of cows and numbers of ducks in the cage?

STEP 2:

Devise a plan

Use guess and check method to get the number of ducks and cows. Total the number of ducks and cows must be 88, but the total of legs must be 200 legs.

STEP 3: plan

Carrying out the

Guess 1 44 ducks 44 2 legs = 88 legs 44 cows 44 4 legs = 176 legs 88 animals Total= 264 legs WRONG! (The number of legs are more)

Guess 2 78 ducks 78 2 legs = 156 legs 10 cows 10 4 legs = 40 legs 88 animals Total = 196 legs WRONG! (The number of legs are less)

Guess 3 76 ducks 76 2 legs = 152 legs 12 cows 12 4 legs = 48 legs 88 animals Total = 200 legs THE ANSWER CORRECT!

STEP 4:

Looking back

The guess 3 is correct. When we add the number of cows and the number of ducks, we will get 88 animals. After we add the total number of their legs, we will get 200 legs. The prove is show below. 76 ducks 76 2 legs = 152 legs 12 cows 12 4 legs = 48 legs 88 animals Total= 200 legs

STRATEGY 2 : EQUATION

SIMULTANEOUS

STEP 1:Understand the problem How many animals in the cage? ( the sum of number of all ducks and cows are 88) How many legs are there in the cage? ( the sum of the number of cowss legs and duckss legs: 200) How many cows and how many ducks in the cage?

STEP 2:Devise a plan. Use simultaneous equation to find the number of ducks and cows respectively. Use y to represent the number of cows and x as the number of ducks.

Step 3 :Carrying out the plan

X = the number of ducks Y = the number of cows As we know, the sum of ducks and cows are 88. So the equation is: x + y = 88 E1 Now, we want to make equation using the number of legs of cows and ducks. Ducks has 2 legs, while cows has 4 legs. So, the equation to show the total number of legs of all cows and ducks is shown below: 2x + 4y = 200 E2

From equation 1, we can make another equation : x + y = 88 x = 88 y E3

Substitute E 3 into E 2: substitute y 2(88 y) + 4y = 200 176 - 2y + 4y = 200 2y = 200 176 2y = 24 y = 12 = 12 into E 3 x = 88 (12) x = 76

so, from the solution, we get that the number of cows in the cage are 12, while the number of ducks in the cage are 76.

STEP 4:

Looking back

When we add the number of cows and the number of ducks, we will get 88 animals. After we add the total all their legs, we will get 200 legs. The prove is show below. 76 ducks 76 2 legs = 152 legs 12 cows 12 X 4 legs = 48 legs 88 animals Total = 200 legs

The best strategy

Based on both strategies that I use to solve the problem, I think the most efficient strategy is strategy 2: Simultaneous equation. I choose this strategy because it is simple method to follow. Besides, when we use this strategy, we can save much time to solve the problem.

SIMILAR PROBLEM

Farid is a leader of a convoy to Penang, which including cars and motorcycles. He finds that all 70 vehicles and 200 tires. How many cars and how many motorcycles do in the convoy?

STEP 1: Understand the problem

How many vehicles in the convoy? ( the sum of number of all motorcycles and cars are 70) How many tires are there in the convoy? ( the sum of the number of all cars tires and all motorcycles tires: 200) How many cars and how many motorcycles in the convoy?

STEP 2:

Devise a plan.

Use simultaneous equation to find the number of motorcycles and cars respectively. Use y to represent motorcycle and x as a cars.

Step 3 : plan

Carrying out the

X = the number of cars Y = the number of motorcycle

As we know, the sum of cars and motorcycles are 70. So the equation is: x + y = 70 E1 Now, we want to make equation using the number of tires of motorcycles and cars. motorcycle has 2 tires, while car has 4 tires. So, the equation to show the total number of tires of all motorcycles and cars is shown below: 4x + 2y = 200 E2

From equation 1, we can make another equation : x + y = 70 x = 70 y E3

Substitute E 3 into E 2: 4(70 y) + 2y = 200 280 4y + 2y = 200 -2y = 200- 280 -2y = -80 y = 40

substitute y = 40 into E 3 x = 70 (40) x = 30

so, from the solution, we get that the number of motorcycle in the convoy are 40, while the number of cars are 40.

STEP 4:

Looking back

When we add all motorcycle and cars, we will get 70. After we add the total all tires, we will get 200 tires. The prove is show below. 40 motorcycles 40 X 2 tires = 80 tires 30 cars 30 X 4 tires = 120 tires 70 vehicles Total = 200 tires