Simple Puzzle for Passing the Time

Is she eating the birds? Or their eggs? Does she have to buy food for them? If so, does she buy it on a daily basis? Does she already have a stock of bird food? Can she eat bird food? How fast do her birds breed? Does she buy the 100 birds after selling the 75? Is the purchase and sale price per bird equal?

It's certainly passed a bit of time already, but I wouldn't say that your puzzle (as stated) is that simple!

Is there a cat in the vicinity that might eat the birds?

you literally just passed your time... the puzzle is simple if you really think on what is given... but if you have so many questions.... let the birds fly.. why should we worry?

hey... i really didnt think like in #1 comment..cant do so much lateral thinking...!! but simply by this information.. answer is 300 chicken and food lasting for 60 days...

It is this kind of negativity from our world's math teachers that taught the fed gov to deficit spend. I highly object to negative values!

She owns 300 birds & has food for the birds for 60 days.

" ... food for the birds for 60 days ..." ?

Where is Dell? This is right up his alley (cat).

As of now she owns 76 birds.

Selling 75 will buy groceries for 20 days.

But; 100 juvenile birds would cost 20 days of of groceries and not be ready to eat for 5 days.

Fortunately she has #76 to eat meanwhile.

OR;

She is selling sparrows and buying emus.

Or;

She is really bad at agricultural business.

You guys assumed they are chickens...why?

i just came from there. The birds have just eaten the old lady and are looking for gullible CR4 members ...

Nice try - but yours is the first mention of chickens on this thread .

#4 might - but he's wrong, 'cause he assumes a multiple of unity bird.

And you know that won't fly around here.

If all the birds she had to feed, had to be some ducks, she could climb up in a great big tree and watch the chickens cluck.

I think there has been some serious oversimplication for this question. I understand how the 300 and 60 answers were found, but I propose that there is in fact not enough information!

Let's set up the system of equations..

Let

B = the number of birds

R = the rate of consumption (lbs / (day *bird))

t = time (days)

f = amount of food (lbs)

So initially we have..

B*R*t = f

And we are given two other conditions

(B-75)*R*(t+20) = f

and

(B+100)*R*(t-15) = f

So we have 3 equations and 4 unknowns… hmm… not solvable according to the algebra teacher I had. Note that if you simplify the B*R term into another consumption term ( ie lbs/day) we can solve the system of equations at the loss of the information about the number of birds and thus the answer to the question. For the answers given so far, the 60 days is correct, as is the 300 as long as we properly label the units as mass/day and not the number of birds.

Your equations are essentially correct, except your R is just a scaling constant and not a variable. Then you have 3 equations - 3 unknowns and the result is the 300 bird / 60 day answer.

All of these calculations rest on many assumptions - the most fundamental being that the "food" in question is food for the birds.

The statement in the original post: "... she will face shortage of food for 15 days ..." - suggested to me that the food was intended for the woman rather than the birds.

I have myself kept birds (bantams), and, depending on the time of year and the weather, there were periods when no additional food was necessary for them to thrive and also supply us with very fine eggs.

These were the reasons for my initial reply on this thread, and consequently, why I contend that any of the "solutions" given is flawed.

This is not an attack on you or your post, mjb, but a suggestion that the "lateral thinkers" responding to the OP should perhaps widen their horizons.

I like the perspective... and it is not taken as an attack. Although I do believe I solved the question as it was intended, your take on it has inspired me to view it from yours (i.e... that the food was intended for the woman). Perhaps there is unique answer there of value... and if nothing less, it will be an excellent exercise in being able to shift my view!

It is curious... the assumptions we make.

No attack perceived

You are welcome to make the problem as complex as you choose since the OP didn't really place sufficient boundary conditions on the problem. The birds could be all different sizes and each one could consume a different quantity of food each day. The lady could use the money she gets from selling birds to buy more food or the money she spends buying more birds could reduce her food budget. I could go on...

My only intent was to help ChaoticIntellect recognize that there were actually 3 equations and 3 unknowns in his analysis and that he could solve the problem as he defined it.

The whole thread is really just a diversion and an exercise in ego self-gratification. The former worked fine but the latter didn't quite do it for me

A cold brew I'm eyeing if far more interesting. Cheers!

I'm viewing this from the cool, clear perspective of one just returned from the pub .

Have one on me!

I'm viewing this from the cool, clear perspective of one just returned from the pub . Have one on me!

I'll have what the gentleman lying on the floor is having.

Thanks for making me take a second look! I'm a stickler for units. As it turns out my equations are correct, with 2 modifications/corrections...

let's change

R = the rate of consumption (1 Bird / (day^2 *bird)) (stating simply that one bird will consume one bird/day worth of food per day... logical ... I get it now)

and

f = amount of food (bird/days)

and of course now I come to the same conclusion as already stated by 3 or more people! Thanks for correction!

Feed = number of total portions for one bird per day. A = number of birds, therefore Feed/A = D = number of days of feed.

(1) Feed/(A-75) = D+20.

(2) Feed/(A+100) = D-15.

Therefore (A-75)(D+20) = (A+100)(D-15).

AD + 20A - 75D - 1500 = AD - 15A +100D - 1500

Therefore 20A - 75D = 100D -15A

Therefore 35A = 175D, divide by 35 = A = 5D days feed.

Therefore Minus 75 birds = plus 20 days therefore 20/5 times 75 = 300 birds.

Answer 300 birds.

Regards JD.