# Find the total number of goats in the herd [closed]

Two brothers were herding few goats together in the woods, at a tree the herd breaks into two parts and each brother tends to one group.

Older brother says, "Give me one goat, I will have twice as you." Younger brother retorts, "You give me one and we will be equal."

So what is the total herd size combined together among them.

## closed as off-topic by Rubio♦Mar 13 at 16:44

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The total herd size is

$$12$$ goats

Let $$X$$ be the number of goats the older brother has, $$Y$$ be the number the younger brother has.

"Give me one goat, I will have twice as you."

$$X+1 = 2(Y-1)$$

"You give me one and we will be equal."

$$X-1 = Y+1$$

Solving we get

$$X=7, Y=5$$ and $$X+Y=12$$

• This is just a math story problem, as the solution clearly shows. – Rubio Mar 13 at 16:45