A farmer has 4 times as many ducks as chickens. There are 72 more chickens than ducks. How many chickens and ducks does the farmer have altogether?

Answer: The farmer has 120 birds altogether

Step-by-step explanation:

Now, since the number of chickens us equal to 4 times the number of ducks, it means that if there are 2 ducks, there are (2 * 4) chickens and if there are 5 ducks in the farm, there are (5 * 4) chickens.

Let's then denote the number of ducks by "b". So, if the number of chickens is equal to 4 times the number of ducks, then the total quantity of birds belonging to the farmer

= 4b + b

If there are 72 more chickens than ducks, the quantity of birds is:

4b - b = 72

3b = 72

b = 72/3

b = 24 ducks

Since 4b represents the quantity of chickens and b is equal to 24, then the actual quantity of chickens = 4 * 24 = 96.

Therefore, if there are 96 chickens and 24 ducks in the farm, then the actual sum of the birds belonging to the farmer is:

96 + 24

= 120 birds

The farmer has 120 birds altogether.