Complete Question
A dog weighs 2 pounds less than 3 times the weight of a cat. The dog weighs twenty two more pounds than the cat.
Write and solve an equation to find the weights of the cat and the dog.
Answer:
Weight of cat = x = 12 pounds
Weight of Dog = y = 34 pounds
Explanation:
Let's represent:
Weight of cat = x
Weight of Dog = y
A dog weighs 2 pounds less than 3 times the weight of a cat.
y = 3x - 2........ Equation 1
The dog weighs twenty two more pounds than the cat
y = x + 22....... Equation 2
The equation is given as:
y = y
3x - 2 = x + 22
Collect like terms
3x - x = 22 + 2
2x = 24
x = 24/2
x = 12 pounds
Solving for y using any of the equations:
y = 3x - 2
y = 3 × 12 - 2
y = 36 - 2
y = 34 pounds
Therefore:
Weight of cat = x = 12 pounds
Weight of Dog = y = 34 pounds