In a caravan, in addition to 50 hens there are 45 goats and 8 camels with some keepers. If the total number of feet be 224 more than the number of heads, find the number of keepers.
Answer
Answer (as printed):
Explanation
Let the number of keepers be $x$. Then, Total number of heads $=(50+45+8+x)=(103+x)$. Total number of feet $=(45+8) \times 4+(50+x) \times 2=(312+2 x)$. $$\therefore \quad(312+2 x)-(103+x)=224 \quad \Leftrightarrow \quad x=15 .$$ Hence, number of keepers = 15.
Explanation as extracted from the printed page; notation may be imperfect.