Question

5 cats each ate 1/4 cup of cat food. Four other cats each ate 1/3 cup of cat food. How much did the nine cats eat?

Answer 1

ANSWER

Number of cups consumed by five cats

$=5\times \frac{1}{4}$

$= \frac{5}{4}$ cups.

Number of cups consumed by four cats

$=4\times \frac{1}{3}$

$= \frac{4}{3}$ cups.

Number of cups consumed by all nine cats

$=\frac{5}{4} + \frac{4}{3}$

The LCM is 12. So we collect LCM to get;

$= \frac{5\times 3+4\times4}{12}$

$= \frac{15+16}{12}$

$= \frac{31}{12}$

$=2 \frac{7}{12}$ cups

Answer 2

Answer:

 Food ate by 9 cats = 2.58333 cups

Explanation:

 Number of cats which eat 1/4 cup of cat food = 5

  Number of cats which eat 1/3 cup of cat food = 4

  Total number of cats = 5 + 4 = 9

  Total cup of food ate by cats = 5*1/4 + 4 *1/3

                                                   $=\frac{5}{4} +\frac{4}{3} \\ \\ =\frac{3*5}{3*4} +\frac{4*4}{4*3}\\ \\ =\frac{15}{12} +\frac{16}{12}\\ \\= \frac{15+16}{12}\\ \\ =\frac{31}{12}=2.5833$ cups.

So food ate by 9 cats = 2.58333 cups