a biology class has a total of 42 students. the number of males is 12 more than the number of females. how many males and how many females are in the class

Answer 1

We need to set things up in relation to each other, either in terms of females or of males. I will do both

MALES

let X = the number of males

then females is 12 less so it is x - 12

and the total is 42 so x + x - 12 = 42

or 2x -12 =42

or 2x = 42 + 12 or 2x = 54 so X (which is our number of males is 27 and females is 27 12 or 15

Check 27+15 = 42

Now lets' use females

let x = number of Females

then the number of males is x+12

so 2x +12 = 42

so 2x = 30

x , the number of females = 15 and the number of males is 27 (take the number of females , which we found is 15 and add 12 because the number of males is females plus 15

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