Question

An animal shelter spends $3.50 per day to care for each bird and $4.00 per day to care for each cat. Makayla noticed that the shelter spent $161.50 caring for birds and cats on Wednesday. Makayla found a record showing that there were a total of 43 birds and cats on Wednesday. How many birds were at the shelter on Wednesday?

Answer 1

Let x = the number of birds

Let y = the number of cats

x + y = 35 y = 35 - x

4.50x + 8.50y = 221.50 Multiply the whole equation by 100.

450x + 850y = 22150

450x + 850(35 - x) = 22150

450x + 29750 - 850x = 22150

-100x = -7600

x = 76 birds

hope this helped