An animal shelter

An animal shelter costs $5.50 per day to care for each bird and $8.50 per day for each cat. On Wednesday, Nicole noticed the shelter spent $283.00 caring for birds and cats. Nicole found a record showing a total of 40 birds and cats on Wednesday. How many birds were at the shelter on Wednesday?

Correct answer:

b =  19
c =  21

Step-by-step explanation:

b+c = 40
5.50 b + 8.50 c = 283.00

b+c = 40
5.50·b + 8.50·c = 283.00

b+c = 40
5.5b+8.5c = 283

Pivot: Row 1 ↔ Row 2
5.5b+8.5c = 283
b+c = 40

Row 2 - 1/5.5 · Row 1 → Row 2
5.5b+8.5c = 283
-0.55c = -11.45


c = -11.45454545/-0.54545455 = 21
b = 283-8.5c/5.5 = 283-8.5 · 21/5.5 = 19

b = 19
c = 21

Our linear equations calculator calculates it.

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