Peculiar Pets

You will need matrices and combinatorics to solve this challenge.

In a city with infinite people, there are only three types of pets. They are dogs, cats, and fish. 60% of people have a pet. The ratio of dogs to cats is 2:3, and the ratio of poeple with cats to those with fish is 5:6. All pets are randomly distributed. The challenge is to find what fraction of the people own dogs.

Solution

2 thoughts on “Peculiar Pets”

  1. Dogs x
    Cats y
    Fish z
    x+y+z=.6
    2x:3y
    5y:6z

    2x=3y
    5y=6z
    Substitute
    x+1.5x+[1.5*1.2]x=.6
    x+1.5x+1.8x=.6
    4.3x=.6
    13.953488% of the population own dogs.

    1. That is the solution to the system of equations you created. However, that system of equations is incorrect )-:. Some people own multiple pets. If this were not the case, you would be absolutely correct.

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