Question

An animal shelter spends $4.50 per day to care for each bird and $8.50 per day to care for each cat. Joshua noticed that the shelter spent $173.50 caring for birds and cats on Tuesday. Joshua found a record showing that there were a total of 27 birds and cats on Tuesday. How many birds were at the shelter on Tuesday?

Answer 1

76 birds

Explanation:

Let x = the number of birds

Let y = the number of cats

x + y = 35 y = 35 - x

4.50x + 8.50y = 221.50 Multiply the whole equation by 100.

450x + 850y = 22150

450x + 850(35 - x) = 22150

450x + 29750 - 850x = 22150

-100x = -7600

x = 76 birds