Give the step-by-step reasoning process and then the final answer. A dog runs through a field and is joined by a group of 4 cats. 2 rabbits join each cat and 3 hares join each rabbit. How many animals are running through the field?
A pair of rabbits join each cat so there must be 4 cats * 2 rabbits / cat = 8 rabbits. As 3 hares join each rabbit, there must be 8 rabbits * 3 hares / rabbit = 24 hares. Counting all the animals shows there are 1 dog + 4 cats + 8 rabbits + 24 hares = 37 animals running through the field.
The final answer: 37.