Try It Tuesday - Sept 10, 2024 Birds in a Tree Puzzle

There are 2 trees in a garden (tree "A" and "B") and in both trees are some birds.

The birds of tree A say to the birds of tree B that if one of you comes to our tree, then our population will be double yours.

Then the birds of tree B tell the birds of tree A that if one of you comes here, then our population will be equal to yours.


How many birds in each tree?

 

Source: https://www.mathsisfun.com/puzzles/birds-in-trees.html

Comments

There are 7 birds in tree A and 5 in tree B.

A = birds in tree A

B = birds in tree B

The birds of tree A say to the birds of tree B that if one of you comes to our tree, then our population will be double yours.

A +1 = 2(B-1)

A + 1 = 2B - 2

A + 3 = 2B

Then the birds of tree B tell the birds of tree A that if one of you comes here, then our population will be equal to yours.

A - 1 = B + 1

A - 2 = B

Substitute the 2nd equation into the first.

A + 3 = 2(A - 2)

A + 3 = 2A - 4

7 = A

Substitute this into the 1st equation.

7 + 3 = 2B

10 = 2B

B = 5

There are 7 birds in tree A and 5 birds in tree B