Question

A total of 52 dogs and cats were on the ranch. If three times the number of dogs exceeded the number of cats by four, how many of each were on the ranch?

Answer 1

• 14 dogs
• 38 cats

Explanation:

Let d and c represent the number of dogs and cats, respectively.

d + c = 52 . . . . . a total of 52 dogs and cats were there

3d - c = 4 . . . 3 times the number of dogs exceeds the number of cats by 4

Adding these two equations, we get ...

4d = 56

d = 14 . . . . . divide by 4

c = 52 -14 = 38

The number of dogs is 14; the number of cats is 38.