Question

there are 37 more cats than dogs in an animal shelter. if there are 78 cats at the shelter, write and solve an equation to determine the number of dogs at the shelter

Answer 1

x - dogs


`x+37=78\\ x=41`

Answer 2

cats=c dogs=d
d+37=c
d+c=78

1. In the second equation, substitute c for d=37

d+d+37=78

2.Subtract 37 from both sides

d+d=41

3.Add like terms.

2d=41

4. To get d alone, you have two divide by 2

d=20.5

5. Now subtract 20.5 from 78 to get the number of cats.

78-20.5=57.5

number of cats=57.5
number of dogs=20.5