SOLUTION: There are 34 cats & dogs total. Cats eat .5 cans of food/day, dogs eat 1.5 cans of food/day. In 1 day, cats & dogs eat 36 cans. How many cats are there? How many dogs are there?

Algebra ->  Percentage-and-ratio-word-problems -> SOLUTION: There are 34 cats & dogs total. Cats eat .5 cans of food/day, dogs eat 1.5 cans of food/day. In 1 day, cats & dogs eat 36 cans. How many cats are there? How many dogs are there?      Log On


   



Question 373744: There are 34 cats & dogs total. Cats eat .5 cans of food/day, dogs eat 1.5 cans of food/day. In 1 day, cats & dogs eat 36 cans. How many cats are there? How many dogs are there?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let c = number of cats
Let d = number of dogs
given:
(1) c+%2B+d+=+34
In 1 day, c cats eat .5c cans of food
In 1 day d dogs eat 1.5d cans of food
(2) .5c+%2B+1.5d+=+36
(2) 5c+%2B+15d+=+360
Multiply both sides of (1) by 5
and subtract from (2)
(2) 5c+%2B+15d+=+360
(1) -5c+-+5d+=+170
10d+=+190
d+=+19
And, since
(1) c+%2B+d+=+34
c+%2B+19+=+34
c+=+15
Ther are 15 cats and 19 dogs