An animal shelter spends $3.50 per day to care for each cat and $8.50 per day to care for each dog. Madison noticed that the shelter spent $85.50 caring for cats and dogs on Monday. Madison found a record showing that there were a total of 13 cats and dogs on Monday. How many cats were at the shelter on Monday?

There would be 5 cats on Monday.

Step-by-step explanation:

3.50c+8.50d=85.50

c+d=13

Solve for c.

c+d=13

-d - d

c=13-d

Plug it in.

3.50 (13-d) + 8.50d=85.50

45.50-3.50d+8.50d=85.50

Add like terms.

-3.50d+8.50d=5d

Solve for d.

45.50+5d=85.50

-45.50 - 45.50

5/5d=40/5

d=8

Plug in.

3.50c+8.50 (8) = 85.50

3.50c+68=85.50

-68 - 68

3.50/3.50c=17.50/3.50

c=5

Check your answer.

3.50 (5) + 8.50 (8) = 85.50

17.50+68=85.50

85.50=85.50

Therefore

c=5

d=8

Their would be 10 cats