An animal shelter spends $5.50 per day to care for each bird and $8.50 per day to care for each cat. Peyton noticed that the shelter spent $308.50 caring for birds and cats on Friday. Peyton found a record showing that there were a total of 43 birds and cats on Friday. How many birds were at the shelter on Friday?

Step-by-step explanation:

19 birds

24 cats

19*5.50=104.50

24x8.50=204.00

104.50 + 204.00 = 308.50

Started by 43 : 5.50 = 7.8

Then 43 : 8.50 = 5.05

Then 43:2 = 21.5

Have to split evenly

21 & 22 are the starting number split.

21 x 5.50 = 115.50

22 x 8.50 = 187.00

115.50 + 187.00 = 302.50

Adjust numbers

20 x 5.50 = 110.00

23 x 8.50 = 195.50

110.0 + 195.50 = 305.50

Adjust numbers

19 x 5.50 = 104.50

24 x 8.50 = 204.00

104.50 + 204.00 = 308.50