Let
A denote the quantity of grass per acre when the pasture starts to be used
B the quantity of grass eaten by one ox in one week
C the quantity of grass that grows on one acre in one week
a, b, c the numbers of oxen,
m, n, p the number of acres,
h, j, k the numbers of weeks in the three cases considered, respectively.
A, B, and C and c are unknown. The conditions are
m(A + hC) = ahB n(A + jC) = bjB p(A + kC) =ckB a system of equations for the three unknowns A/B, C/B, c . . .
With numerical datea for m, n, p, h, j, k, a, and b (respectively 3 1/3, 10, 24, 4, 9, 18, 12, and 21) the result is 36.
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(10/3)(A + 4C) = (12)(4)B 10(A + 9C) = 21(9)B 24(A + 18C) = c(18)B Let x = A/B, y = C/B
(10/3)(x + 4y) = (12)(4) 10(x + 9y) = (21)(9) (24(x + 18y) = 18c