To determine the number of cats at the park, follow these steps:
1. Understanding the Ratio:
- The ratio of cats to dogs is given as 1:4.
- This means for every 1 cat, there are 4 dogs.
2. Identify the Known Quantity:
- We know that there are 12 dogs at the park.
3. Set Up a Proportion:
- According to the given ratio, if there are 4 dogs for every 1 cat, we can create the following proportion:
[tex]\[
\text{Number of cats} : \text{Number of dogs} = 1 : 4
\][/tex]
4. Express the Relationship Mathematically:
- Let [tex]\( c \)[/tex] represent the number of cats.
- According to the proportion, we have:
[tex]\[
\frac{c}{12} = \frac{1}{4}
\][/tex]
5. Solve the Proportion:
- To find [tex]\( c \)[/tex], we solve the equation:
[tex]\[
c = \frac{12}{4}
\][/tex]
6. Calculate the Value:
- Dividing 12 by 4, we get:
[tex]\[
c = 3
\][/tex]
Therefore, there were 3 cats at the park.
