2012 AMC 8 Problem 9

Attempt Problem 9 of the 2012 AMC 8 below, then check your answer against the video solution and professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2012 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

9.

The Fort Worth Zoo has a number of two-legged birds and a number of four-legged mammals. On one visit to the zoo, Margie counted 200200 heads and 522522 legs. How many of the animals that Margie counted were two-legged birds?
61 61
122 122
139 139
150 150
161 161
Answer: C
Concepts:system of equations
Small hint:
Start by giving every animal two legs.
Big hint:
The extra legs determine the number of four-legged mammals.
Video solution:
Solution video thumbnail
Play video

Click to load, then click again to play

Written solution:
Let ff be the number of animals with 44 legs and let tt be the number of animals with 22 legs.
Counting the number of legs yields 2t+4f=5222t+4f = 522 and counting the number of heads yields t+f=200.t + f = 200. This means 4t+4f=800,4t+4f = 800, and subtracting the first equation from the second yields 2t=278  ⟹  t=139.2t = 278 \implies t = 139. This means there are 139139 two-legged birds.
Thus, the answer is C .
LIVE by Po-Shen Loh
Programs

LIVE Classes

Self-Paced Classes

Stars

Scholarship

About Us

Who Is Po-Shen Loh?

Email Contact

Newsletter

Jobs

Become a Star

For a more Thought Full world.

© 2026 Expii, Inc.