Question

The ratio of dogs to cats at the SPCA is 3:2. If there are 48 cats, how many dogs are there?

Answer 1

72 dogs

Explanation:

First turn 3:2 into a fraction:

3/2

Then you can make the equation a proportion question, which is much eaiser to handle.

3/2=x/48 (I recommend writing this out so it will be easier to see)

Then you cross multiply, or multiply by the numerator of the first fraction by the denominator of the second, and the denominator of the first fraction by the numerator of the second.

Multiply 2 by x, which becomes 2x.

Multiply 3 by 48, which is 144

This becomes... 2x=144

You then solve with equation by dividing 144/2 and getting 72.

Meaning x=72 dogs

Answer 2

72 dogs

Explanation:

3 dogs/2 cats = x dogs/48 cats

Cross Multiply

3/2 x x/48

2x=144

x=72