Final answer:
To find the number of red socks, a proportion was set up comparing the given ratio of red to orange socks (5:9) to the number of orange socks (63). By cross-multiplying and solving the resulting equation, it was determined there are 35 red socks, which is option a) 35.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks to determine how many red socks are there given that the ratio of red socks to orange socks is 5 to 9 and there are 63 orange socks. To solve this, we set up a proportion where the number of red socks (which we can call R) has a ratio to 63 orange socks that is equivalent to the ratio 5:9.
The proportion will look like the following:
5/9 = R/63
To find R, we cross-multiply:
5 * 63 = 9 * R
315 = 9 * R
Now, divide both sides by 9 to solve for R:
R = 315 / 9
R = 35
Therefore, there are 35 red socks. This corresponds to option a) 35.