The U.S. Senate has 100 members. 20 democrates than republics. How many members of each party were there in the senate

Question

Use a variable to describe one political party, and modify it to describe the other party. Then write an equation using a sum of 100 for the two parties, and solve

Answer 1

Let our two variables be x and y . x for Republicans and y for Democrats. 

 

x + y = 100 

 

Since they both sum up to the total number of members in the house and is given to us as 100

 

The second equation and I'm hoping you meant 20 democrats more than Republicans it doesn't state if it's less than or more than

So given its more than our second equation would be

 

y = 20 + x

 

Now substitute for y in the first equation

 

x + (20+x) = 100

 

2x = 80

 

x = 40

 

meaning 40 Republicans and to find the number of Democrats we simply subtract this value from 100

 

Democrats = 100 - 40

 

= 60