perplexus.info :: Just Math : Farmer Giles

Farmer Giles (Posted on 2014-10-21)

“ How many livestock have you Farmer Giles?”
“All cows but four” he replied.
“All bulls but four” he also replied.
“Have you any horses?”
“I have as many horses as cattle, not counting the chickens!”
“Have you many chickens?”
"I'm not sure how many chickens I have."
How many livestock did Farmer Giles have?

The above text was copied verbatim from “Mensa puzzle book II” (by Carter and Russel).
While the book provides a solution to this dialog, another valid solution was somehow not quoted.

Please find both.

See The Solution Submitted by Ady TZIDON

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solutions

| Comment 1 of 4

Let

c = number of cows

b = number of bulls

h = number of horses

p = number of chickens (poults)

b + h + p = 4

c + h + p = 4

h = b + c

----------

2b +  c + p = 4
 b + 2c + p = 4
 
 b -  c  = 0
 
 b = c

-----

3b + p = 4

Either:

b = 1 and p = 1

(1 bull, 1 cow, 2 horses, 1 chicken)

b = 0 and p = 4

(No bulls, cows or horses; just 4 chickens)

Posted by Charlie on 2014-10-21 10:36:47

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