Final answer:
Converting the cage's weight capacity to ounces (192 ounces) and dividing it by the weight of each hamster (5 ounces) gives us 38.4, which we round down to 38, meaning Rowan can safely put 38 hamsters in the cage; the options provided in the question seem to be incorrect.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves converting weights and calculating a maximum capacity, thus falling under the subject of Mathematics and is typically at a Middle School level. To determine how many hamsters Rowan can safely put in her cage, we must first convert the cage's capacity from pounds to ounces since the weight of each hamster is given in ounces.
There are 16 ounces in a pound. Thus, the cage's capacity in ounces is 12 pounds times 16 ounces per pound, which equals 192 ounces. Then, if each hamster weighs 5 ounces, we divide the total capacity of the cage in ounces by the weight of one hamster:
- 192 ounces ÷ 5 ounces per hamster = 38.4 hamsters
Since Rowan cannot have a fraction of a hamster, we round down to the nearest whole number. Therefore, the maximum number of hamsters that she can safely put in the cage is 38. None of the provided options (a) 6 hamsters, (b) 24 hamsters, (c) 96 hamsters, or (d) 3 hamsters is correct. It appears there may have been a mistake in the options provided.