An animal shelter spends $2.00 per day to care for each cat and $7.00 per day to care for each dog. Brooklyn noticed that the shelter spent $82.00 caring for cats and dogs on Friday. Brooklyn found a record showing that there were a total of 26 cats and dogs on Friday. How many cats were at the shelter on Friday?

The number of cats at the shelter on Friday was 20.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hi there!

Let "x" be the number of cats and "y" the number of dogs.

The shelter spends $2 per cat and $7 per dog. If the total expenses on Friday was $82, then, two times the number of cats plus seven times the number of dogs is equal to 82:

2x + 7y = 82

We also know that the total number of cats and dogs was 26. Then, the number of cats plus the number of dogs is equal to 26:

x + y = 26

Let's solve this equation for y and replace it in the first equation

y = 26 - x

Then:

2x + 7 (26 - x) = 82

Apply distributive property:

2x + 182 - 7x = 82

Subtract 182 to both sides of the equation:

-5x = - 100

divide both sides of the equation by - 5

x = 20

The number of cats at the shelter on Friday was 20.

Have a nice day!