Working this in one variable......let x be the number of goats and 23 - x be the number of chickens
And the number of goats times the legs on each plus the number of chickens times the legs on each = 74.....so.....mathematically, we have.......
x(4) + (23 - x) (2) = 74 simplify
4x - 2x + 46 = 74
2x + 46 = 74 subtract 46 from both sides
2x = 28 divide by 2 on both sides
x = 14 this is the number of goats
(23 - x) = (23 - 14) = 9 = the number of chickens
