Let's solve the problem step by step.

Problem:

• Wednesday: The ratio of adult cats to kittens is 5:3, and there are 12 kittens.
• Friday: There are 24 adult cats.
• Goal: Find the difference in the number of adult cats between Wednesday and Friday.

Step 1: Calculate the number of adult cats on Wednesday.

The ratio of adult cats to kittens is $5:3$, meaning for every 5 adult cats, there are 3 kittens.

Let the number of adult cats on Wednesday be $x$. Using the ratio: $\frac{\text{Adult Cats}}{\text{Kittens}} = \frac{5}{3}$

Since the number of kittens is given as $12$: $\frac{x}{12} = \frac{5}{3}$

Solve for $x$: $x = 12 \times \frac{5}{3}$ $x = 20$

So, there were 20 adult cats on Wednesday.

Step 2: Compare the adult cat numbers between Wednesday and Friday.

• Adult cats on Wednesday: $20$
• Adult cats on Friday: $24$

The difference is: $24 - 20 = 4$

Final Answer:

The difference in the number of adult cats between Friday and Wednesday is 4.

Would you like more details or have any questions?

Related Questions:

1. If the ratio of adult cats to kittens was changed to 4:3, how many adult cats would there be on Wednesday?
2. How many total cats (adults + kittens) were at the pet care center on Wednesday?
3. If there were 30 kittens on Friday, what would the ratio of adult cats to kittens be?
4. What is the percentage increase in adult cats from Wednesday to Friday?
5. How many kittens would there need to be on Wednesday to make the ratio 2:1 (adults:kittens)?

Tip:

When solving ratio problems, always ensure the total is divisible by the sum of the ratio parts to simplify calculations!