Question

A farmer had a total of 700 goats and sheep.  if he sold 3/4 of his goats and 400 sheep, he would have an equal number of goats and sheep left.  How many more sheep than goats did he have in the beginning?

Answer 1

A farmer had a total of 700 goats and sheep. if he sold 3/4 of his goats and 400 sheep, he would have an equal number of goats and sheep left. How many more sheep than goats did he have in the beginning?

G + S = 700

700 - 400 - 3/4 G = even number of G and S remaining

3/4 (240)  = 180  goats sold & 60 remaining

700 - 400 sheep = 300 - 180 goats = 120 animals left

120/2 = 60 each remaining

the farmer started with:

60+ 400 = 460 Sheep and

240 goats

460 - 240 = 220 more sheep than goats to begin with

 

Answer 2

Given a farmer had a total of 700 goats and sheep.
g + s = 700
g = (700-s)........(1)

If he sold 3/4 of his goats and 400 sheep, he would have an equal number
of goats and sheep left.
1%2F4g = s - 400

Multiply both sides by 4
g = 4(s - 400)
g = 4s - 1600..........(2)

Replace g with (700-s) from equation (1)
700 - s = 4s - 1600
700 + 1600 = 4s + s
2300 = 5s
s = 2300/5
s = 460 sheep in the beginning

And
700 - 460 = 240 goats in the beginning

Hence 460 - 240 = 220 more sheep

Solving Math Word Problems - http://math.tutorvista.com/math-word-problems.html