The ratio of cats to dogs at the animal shelter is 2:5. If there are 35 animals total, how many cats are there?

Set up a proportion to describe this relationship. So, for every 2 cats, there is five dogs. Therefore, "c" can represent your unknown quantity for every 35 animals.

2/5 = c/35

Cross multiply, multiplying the numerator/top number of the first fraction/ratio, by the denominator/bottom number in the second fraction/ratio.

2 • 35 = 70

Then, Cross multiply, multiplying the numerator/top number of the second fraction/ratio, by the denominator/bottom number in the first fraction/ratio.

C • 5 = 5c

So, now the problem shows both products as equal to each other.

70 = 5c

To solve for the variable, "c", you must isolate the variable, by performing the opposite/inverse operation of multiplication, since that will undo the multiplication, for the variable to stand alone. Therefore, divide both sides of the equation by 5.

70/5 = 5c/5

14 = c

So, there is 14 cats out of 35 animals.