Sally Has 2 Cats, And Each Cat Eats 1 4 \frac{1}{4} 4 1 Of A Tin Of Cat Food Each Day. Sally Buys 9 Tins Of Cat Food. For How Many Days Will The Cat Food Feed Her 2 Cats? You Must Show Your Working.

Mar 8, 2025 by ADMIN 201 views

**Sally's Cat Food Conundrum: A Mathematical Exploration**

Introduction

As a cat owner, Sally is concerned about providing her two feline friends with a steady supply of nutritious food. With 9 tins of cat food at her disposal, she wants to know how many days the cat food will last for her two cats. In this article, we will delve into the world of mathematics to solve this problem and provide Sally with a clear answer.

The Problem

Sally has 2 cats, and each cat eats $\frac{1}{4}$ of a tin of cat food each day. Sally buys 9 tins of cat food. We need to find out how many days the cat food will feed her 2 cats.

Step 1: Calculate the Total Amount of Cat Food

To solve this problem, we first need to calculate the total amount of cat food available. Since Sally buys 9 tins of cat food, we can represent this as 9 units of cat food.

Step 2: Calculate the Daily Cat Food Consumption

Each cat eats $\frac{1}{4}$ of a tin of cat food each day. Since Sally has 2 cats, the total daily cat food consumption is:

2 cats $\times$ $\frac{1}{4}$ tin/cat = $\frac{1}{2}$ tin/day

Step 3: Calculate the Number of Days the Cat Food Will Last

Now that we know the total amount of cat food available (9 tins) and the daily cat food consumption ( $\frac{1}{2}$ tin/day), we can calculate the number of days the cat food will last:

9 tins / $\frac{1}{2}$ tin/day = 18 days

Conclusion

In conclusion, the cat food will last for 18 days. This means that Sally can provide her two cats with a steady supply of food for 18 days with the 9 tins of cat food she has purchased.

Mathematical Representation

The mathematical representation of this problem can be expressed as:

Let $x$ be the number of days the cat food will last.

We know that the total amount of cat food available is 9 tins, and the daily cat food consumption is $\frac{1}{2}$ tin/day.

We can set up the equation:

9 tins = $\frac{1}{2}$ tin/day $\times$ $x$ days

To solve for $x$ , we can divide both sides of the equation by $\frac{1}{2}$ tin/day:

9 tins / $\frac{1}{2}$ tin/day = $x$ days

$x$ = 18 days

Real-World Applications

This problem may seem simple, but it has real-world applications in various fields, such as:

Pet ownership: Understanding how much food to buy for your pets can help you plan and budget for their care.
Food storage: Knowing how long food will last can help you plan and manage food storage and inventory.
Mathematical modeling: This problem demonstrates how mathematical concepts, such as fractions and ratios, can be applied to real-world problems.

Conclusion

Q&A: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I calculate the number of days the cat food will last? A: To calculate the number of days the cat food will last, you need to divide the total amount of cat food available by the daily cat food consumption. In this case, we divided 9 tins of cat food by $\frac{1}{2}$ tin/day to get 18 days.

Q: What if I have more cats? How do I calculate the number of days the cat food will last? A: If you have more cats, you need to multiply the daily cat food consumption by the number of cats. For example, if you have 3 cats and each cat eats $\frac{1}{4}$ of a tin of cat food each day, the total daily cat food consumption would be:

3 cats $\times$ $\frac{1}{4}$ tin/cat = $\frac{3}{4}$ tin/day

You would then divide the total amount of cat food available by the daily cat food consumption to get the number of days the cat food will last.

Q: What if I want to buy more cat food? How do I calculate how much I need to buy? A: To calculate how much cat food you need to buy, you need to multiply the number of days you want the cat food to last by the daily cat food consumption. For example, if you want the cat food to last for 30 days and each cat eats $\frac{1}{4}$ of a tin of cat food each day, you would multiply the number of days by the daily cat food consumption:

30 days $\times$ $\frac{1}{4}$ tin/day = 7.5 tins

You would then round up to the nearest whole number to ensure you have enough cat food.

Q: Can I use this method to calculate the number of days other types of food will last? A: Yes, you can use this method to calculate the number of days other types of food will last. However, you need to make sure you have the correct information about the food, such as the amount of food available and the daily consumption rate.

Q: What if I have a different type of cat food that has a different serving size? How do I calculate the number of days it will last? A: If you have a different type of cat food that has a different serving size, you need to adjust the calculation accordingly. For example, if you have a cat food that comes in 1-pound bags and each cat eats 1/4 pound of cat food per day, you would multiply the number of cats by the daily cat food consumption and then divide the total amount of cat food available by the daily cat food consumption.

Q: Can I use this method to calculate the number of days other types of pet food will last? A: Yes, you can use this method to calculate the number of days other types of pet food will last. However, you need to make sure you have the correct information about the pet food, such as the amount of food available and the daily consumption rate.

Conclusion

In conclusion, calculating the number of days cat food will last is a simple process that involves dividing the total amount of cat food available by the daily cat food consumption. By following these steps and using the correct information, you can ensure that your cat has a steady supply of food and that you are not wasting money on unnecessary purchases.