Answer: [tex]2\dfrac{7}{12}[/tex] cups
Step-by-step explanation:
5 cats each ate 1/4 cup and 4 cats each ate 1/3 cup.
The total the 9 cats ate is:
[tex]5\bigg(\dfrac{1}{4}\bigg)+4\bigg(\dfrac{1}{3}\bigg)\\\\\\=\dfrac{5}{4}+\dfrac{4}{3}\\\\\\\dfrac{5}{4}\bigg(\dfrac{3}{3}\bigg)+\dfrac{4}{3}\bigg(\dfrac{4}{4}\bigg)\\\\\\=\dfrac{15}{12}+\dfrac{16}{12}\\\\\\=\dfrac{31}{12}\\\\\\=\large\boxed{2\dfrac{7}{12}}[/tex]
