Question

Some students were asked what kinds of animals they have at home.

(a) List the animals in order popularity from most popular to least popular.
(b) I estimated that 250 students were interviewed, how many students have an "other" pet? Show your work
(c) If 75 students have cats, was my estimate of 250 students correct? if not, what is the actual number of students interviewed? Explain.

Answer 1

(a) Animals by popularity; Dogs, Cats, Others, Horses.

(b) If 250 students were interviewed, 20 students have other pets.

(c) No, it was incorrect.

Explanation:

Step 1; We arrange the different pets in chronological order, from the highest percent to the lowest percent;

1. Dogs - 67%,

2. Cats - 20%

3. Others - 8%,

4. Horses - 1%.

None is not included in this list.

Step 2; If 250 students were interviewed, 8% of those have other pets. So we need to calculate how much 8% of 250 is.

8% of 250 =
`(8)/(100)` × 250 = 0.08 × 250 = 20.

So 20 students had other pets.

Step 3; 20% of the interviewed students had cats. If 75 students had cats, we need to equate 20% to the 75 and find out how many students were actually interviewed.

20% × x = 75, 0.2 × x = 75,

x =
`(75)/(0.2)` = 375.

So if 375 students were interviewed, 75 students would have cats. So the estimate of 250 students being interviewed is incorrect.