Paula has a dog that weighs 3 times as much as Carla's dog. The total weight of the dogs is 48 pounds. How much does Paula's dog weigh? Draw a diagram to the find the weight of Paula's dog?

Let the weight of Paula's dog be x

Let the weight of Carla's dog be y

We know that the weight of Paula's dog is 3 times that of Carla's dog, therefore:

x = 3y ... > equation I

We also know that the sum of the weights is 48 pounds, therefore:

x + y = 48 ... > equation II

Substitute with equation I in equation II:

3y + y = 48

4y = 48

y = 12 pouds

Substitute with the value of y in equation I:

x = 3 (12) = 36 pounds

Based on the above calculations:

Paula's dog weighs 36 pounds

Carla's dog weighs 12 pounds