Question

Please Help, Lots of points

An animal shelter spends $4.50 per day to care for each cat and $8.50 per day to care for each dog. Violet noticed that the shelter spent $219.00 caring for cats and dogs on Thursday. Violet found a record showing that there were a total of 30 cats and dogs on Thursday. How many cats were at the shelter on Thursday?

Answer 1

9 cats

Explanation:

x = cat

y = dog

Set up equations.

x + y = 30

4.5x + 8.5y = 219

Multiply first equation by 4.5 and subtract.

4.5x + 4.5y = 135

-(4.5x + 8.5y = 219)

-4y = -84

y = 21

Substitute this y value into the first equation

x + y = 30

x + 21 = 30

x = 9