Question

A pet store currently has a total of 45 cats and dogs. There are 7 more cats than dogs. How do you find the number of cats and dogs in the store?

Answer 1

In the store there are currently 19 dogs and 26 cats.

Explanation:

We are looking for the number of cats and dogs so let's call `c` the number of cats and `d` the number of dogs.

Now we are told there are 7 more cats (`c`) than dogs (`d`) so we can write this in mathematical terms as:

`c = d + 7`

We are also told there is a total of 45 cats (`c`) and dogs (`d`). So we can write this as:

`c + d = 45`

We can now substitute, from the first equation, `d + 7` for `c` in the second equation and solve for `d`:

`(d + 7) + d = 45`

`d + 7 + d = 45`

`2d + 7 = 45`

`2d + 7 - 7 = 45 - 7`

`2d = 38`

`(2d)/2 = 38/2`

`d = 19`

Now that we have `d`, or the number of dogs, we can substitute this back into the first equation to calculate `c`, or the number of cats:

`c = 19 + 7`

`c = 26`