An animal shelter has 14 puppies. if the puppies are 28% of the total dog and cat population, how many dogs and cats are in the animal shelter? i know that the answer is 50, but why is that? how do you find the answer?

Use the ratio 14/x = 28/100 then use the butterfly method (any method you have been taught) to get the equation 14 x 100 = 28x > 1400 = 28x, then divide 14000 by 28 to get 50.

WHY: 28% is basically 28/100 AND 0.28
you want to find the total amount of puppies, and 14 is only a part of it. So you use 14 as the numerator, and use x in place of the total number of puppies (since you don't know it)
28% is = 14 puppies s 14/x = 28/100 makes sense.

Another explanation if the top doesn't make sense:
28% of the total, x, is 14 ---> is over of, 14/ 0.28 would work too.
14 puppies is 28% of the total amount of puppies.
so 14/a total is basically the same thing as saying 28% because 14 is fraction of the total that is why you use a fraction and 14 puppies out of x total is equal to 28%