Question 162620
In a local pet store , the cats sell for $10 each and the canaries sell for $15 each. the total value was $360. one night the shop owner forgot to close the cages. 2 cats and half of the canaries are gone. if the total value is now $220, how many of each were present before escape?

I was asked to find the solution by writing and solving a system of 2 linear equations.

so far i have that: k= number of cats and c= number of canaries

And what i think the equations might be: {{{ 10k+15c=360 }}}
                                     and {{{ 20+1/2c=220 }}}
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1st Value Equation: 10k + 15c = 360
2nd Value Equation: 10(k-2) + 15(c/2) = 220
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Rewrite for elimination:
10k + 15c = 360
20k + 15c = 480
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10k = 120
k = 12 (original # of cats)
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10*12 + 15c = 360
15c = 240
c = 16 (original # of canaries)
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Cheers,
Stan H.