Eric is putting together alien toys called zerg and Borges for the display window in a toy store. He has a box of alien body parts that contains 45 heads and 55 feet. Each zerg must have one head and three feet.each Borg must have four heads and two feet. How many zergs and how many Borges can he make if he must use all the heads and feet in the box.

Answer 1

Let the number of Zerg be z, and Borges be b.
Heads: 45 = z + 4b
Feet: 55 = 3z + 2b

Solve the simultaneous equations.

Hint: multiply the first by 3 and subtract the second, then simplify.

Hint 2: multiply the second by 3 and subtract the first, then simplify.

Answer 2

Let the number of Zerg be z, and Borges be b.
Heads: 45 = z + 4b
Feet: 55 = 3z + 2b

Solve the simultaneous equations.

Hint: multiply the first by 2 and subtract the second, then simplify.

Hint 2: multiply the second by 3 and subtract the first, then simplify.