High School

There are 3 military horses and 4 ordinary horses. Together, 1 military horse and 1 ordinary horse can pull 40 pounds of supplies. The team of horses can pull 137 pounds of supplies.

How many pounds of supplies can 1 ordinary horse pull? How many pounds of supplies can 1 military horse pull?

- One ordinary horse can pull [tex]$\square$[/tex] pounds.
- One military horse can pull [tex]$\square$[/tex] pounds.

Answer :

To solve the problem of how many pounds each type of horse can pull, we need to set up and solve a system of equations. Follow these steps:

1. Define Variables:
- Let [tex]\( m \)[/tex] be the number of pounds a military horse can pull.
- Let [tex]\( o \)[/tex] be the number of pounds an ordinary horse can pull.

2. Set Up the Equations:
- According to the problem, together, one military horse and one ordinary horse can pull a total of 40 pounds. This gives us our first equation:
[tex]\[
m + o = 40
\][/tex]

- Additionally, the combination of 3 military horses and 4 ordinary horses can pull a total of 137 pounds. This provides a second equation:
[tex]\[
3m + 4o = 137
\][/tex]

3. Solve the Equations:
- We have the following system of equations:
[tex]\[
\begin{align*}
m + o &= 40 \\
3m + 4o &= 137
\end{align*}
\][/tex]

- From the first equation, express [tex]\( m \)[/tex] in terms of [tex]\( o \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[
m = 40 - o
\][/tex]

- Substitute this expression for [tex]\( m \)[/tex] into the second equation:
[tex]\[
3(40 - o) + 4o = 137
\][/tex]

- Simplify and solve for [tex]\( o \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[
120 - 3o + 4o = 137
\][/tex]
[tex]\[
120 + o = 137
\][/tex]
[tex]\[
o = 17
\][/tex]

- Substitute [tex]\( o = 17 \)[/tex] back into the equation for [tex]\( m \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[
m = 40 - o = 40 - 17 = 23
\][/tex]

4. Conclusion:
- Therefore, one ordinary horse can pull 17 pounds.
- One military horse can pull 23 pounds.