Answer: there were 4 cats at the shelter on Monday.
Step-by-step explanation:
Let x represent the number of cats at the shelter on Monday.
Let y represent the number of dogs at the shelter on Monday.
Angel found a record showing that there were a total of 8 cats and dogs on monday. This means that
x + y = 8
The animal shelter spends $5.50 per day to care for each cat and $8.00 per day to care for each dog. Angel noticed that the shelter spent $54.00 caring for cats and dogs on Monday. This means that
5.5x + 8y = 54- - - - - - - - - - - - -1
Substituting x = 8 - y into equation 1, it becomes
5.5(8 - y) + 8y = 54
44 - 5.5y + 8y = 54
- 5.5y + 8y = 54 - 44
2.5y = 10
y = 10/2.5
y = 4
x = 8 - y = 8 - 4
x = 4
