If there were 36 heads and 104 legs how many horses were their? How many riders were there?

2 answers

r+h = 36
2r+4h = 104
Now just solve as usual.
From the first equation, we get:

r = 36 - h

Substituting this into the second equation, we get:

2(36 - h) + 4h = 104

Simplifying and solving for h, we get:

72 - 2h + 4h = 104

2h = 32

h = 16

So there were 16 horses. Substituting this back into the first equation, we get:

r + 16 = 36

r = 20

So there were 20 riders.