Father Saturnino Urios University

Arts and Sciences Program

Apportionment
GE 104: Mathematics in the Modern World

ROSARIO CHERRY CONDE-LADAGA

Faculty, Natural Science and Math Division
rcladaga@urios.edu.ph

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

To apportion means to make a proportionate distribution of some goods
and services (Alejan, R. et al. (2018) ‘Mathematics in the Modern World’). Apportionment is a
method dividing a whole into various parts. A mathematical investigation
into apportionment has its own roots in US congress. It started in 1790
when the House of Representatives attempted to apportion itself. The
issue then was to find how many voters would be represented by each
member of the house.
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 1
THOMAS JEFFERSON
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• First secretary of state, vice
president, leader of the first
political opposition party, and
third president of the United
States of America
• Played a major role in the
planning, design, and
construction of a national capitol
and the federal district.

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 2
ALEXANDER
HAMILTON

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• The apportionment method
suggested by Alexander Hamilton
was approved by Congress in1791,
but was subsequently vetoed by
president Washington – in the very
first exercise of the veto power by
President of the United States.
Hamilton’s method was adopted by
the US Congress in 1852 and was in
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use through 1911 when it was
 To illustrate how these different methods of apportionment works,
consider a fictitious country named Kolob with a population of
33,300 and having twelve states. The population of each state is
given below:
State Population
Andersen 3,250
Ballard 2,750
Suppose that
Bednar 3,000
Kolob’s
Christofferson 2,500 constitution calls
Cook 3,500 for 70
Hales 3,300 representatives to
Holland 2,500 be chosen for
Neilsen 2,250 these twelve
Nelson 4,000 states. The
Oaks 3,750
number of
representatives to
Rasband 1,000
be apportioned
Reniund 1,500
according to the
Total 33,300
population of each
state. 7
 The HAMILTON PLAN

• To determine the number of representatives of each state under the

Hamilton method, divide first the total population (33, 300) by the number
of representatives (70). This number is called the standard divisor

STANDARD DIVISOR FORMULA

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

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For Kolob’s Constitution, the standard divisor is
33,300
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑟 = = 475.71
70
Question: what is the meaning of the number 475.71?
Answer: it is the number of citizens represented by each representative

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DEFINITION .
• Standard quota is the whole number part of the quotient of a
population divided by the standard divisor

• Lower quota ( L ) is the standard quota rounded down to a whole

number

• Upper quota ( U ) is the standard quota rounded up to the next

whole number

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For example, 8.4 and 8.6 should be rounded down to 8. Each whole
number part of a quotient is called the standard quota.

For the state of Andersen, dividing its population (3250) by the

3250
standard divisor (475.71) yields = 6.83
475.71

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 In the Hamilton Plan, we use the lower quota hence, the standard
quota for the state Andersen is 6. The rest of the states will be
shown in the table below.
State Population Quotient Standard Quota (L)
3, 250
Andersen 3, 250 475.71
= 6.83 6

Ballard 2, 750
2, 750
= 5.78 5
assign an
additional
475.71

representative
3, 000
Bednar 3, 000 475.71
= 6.31 6

2, 500 to the state

Christofferson 2, 500 = 5.26 5
475.71
with the
Cook 3, 500
3, 500
475.71
= 7.36 7 largest decimal
3, 300 remainder.
Hales 3, 300 = 6.94 6
475.71

2, 500
Holland 2, 500 475.71
= 5.26 5

2, 250
Neilsen 2, 250 475.71
= 4.73 4

4, 000
Nelson 4, 000 = 8.41 8
475.71

3, 750
Oaks 3, 750 475.71
= 7.88 7

1, 000
Rasband 1, 000 = 2.10 2
475.71

1, 500
Reniund 1, 500 475.71
= 3.15 3

Total 64 12
 State population Quotient Standard Quota (L) Additional Representative Number of Representatives

32, 250
Andersen 3, 250 = 6.83 6 1 7
475.71

2, 750
Ballard 2, 750 = 5.78 5 1 6
475.71

3, 000
Bednar 3, 000 = 6.31 6 0 6
475.71

2, 500
Christofferson 2, 500 = 5.26 5 0 5
475.71

3, 500
Cook 3, 500 = 7.36 7 0 7
475.71

3, 300
Hales 3, 300 = 6.94 6 1 7
475.71

2, 500
Holland 2, 500 = 5.26 5 0 5
475.71

2, 250
Neilsen 2, 250 = 4.73 4 1 5
475.71

4, 000
Nelson 4, 000 = 8.41 8 1 9
475.71

3, 750
Oaks 3, 750 = 7.88 7 1 8
475.71

1, 000
Rasband 1, 000 = 2.10 2 0 2
475.71

1, 500
Reniund 1, 500 = 3.15 3 0 3
475.71

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Total 64 70
 The JEFFERSON PLAN

In the Hamilton Plan, dividing by the standard divisor and then rounding
down does not always yield the correct number of representatives. The
Jefferson Plan attempts to overcome this by using the modified standard
divisor. Take note: the modified standard divisor will always be smaller
than the standard divisor. This number is chosen, by trial and error.

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 Suppose we let the modified standard divisor (MSD) equal t
State Population Quotient MSD = 460 Standard Quota (L)

3, 250
Andersen 3, 250 = 7.07 7
460

2, 750
Ballard 2, 750 = 5.98 5
460

3, 000
Bednar 3, 000 = 6.52 6
460

2, 500
Christofferson 2, 500 = 5.43 5
460

3, 500
Cook 3, 500 = 7.61 7
460

3, 300
Hales 3, 300 = 7.17 6
460

2, 500
Holland 2, 500 = 5.43 5
460

2, 250
Neilsen 2, 250 = 4.89 4
460

4, 000
Nelson 4, 000 = 8.70 8
460

3, 750
Oaks 3, 750 = 8.15 8
460

1, 000
Rasband 1, 000 = 2.17 2
460

1, 500
Reniund 1, 500 = 3.26 3
460

Total 66 15
 State Population Quotient MSD = 440 Standard Quota (L)

3, 250
Andersen 3, 250 = 7.39 7
440

2, 750
Ballard 2, 750 = 6.25 6
440

3, 000
Bednar 3, 000 = 6.82 6
440

2, 500
Christofferson 2, 500 = 5.68 5
440

3, 500
Cook 3, 500 = 7.95 7
440

3, 300
Hales 3, 300 = 7.50 7
440

2, 500
Holland 2, 500 = 5.68 5
440

2, 250
Neilsen 2, 250 = 5.11 5
440

4, 000
Nelson 4, 000 = 9.09 9
440

3, 750
Oaks 3, 750 = 8.52 8
440

1, 000
Rasband 1, 000 = 2.27 2
440

1, 500
Reniund 1, 500 = 3.41 3
440

Total 70
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 ADAM’S METHOD OF APPORTIONMENT

Another method for apportionment was proposed by former U.S. President

John Quincy Adams. Under this method, the same formula is used to
compute for the standard quota of each state but this time the upper
quota (U) is applied instead.

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 State Population Quotient Standard Quota (U)

Andersen 3, 250
3, 250
475.71
= 6.83 7 in this method “the
Ballard 2, 750
2, 750
475.71
= 5.78 6
modified standard
3, 000
= 6.31
divisor must be
Bednar 3, 000 7
greater than the
475.71

2, 500

standard divisor”.
Christofferson 2, 500 475.71
= 5.26 6

3, 500
Cook 3, 500 475.71
= 7.36 8

3, 300
Hales 3, 300 = 6.94 7
475.71

2, 500
Holland 2, 500 475.71
= 5.26 6

2, 250
Neilsen 2, 250 475.71
= 4.73 5

4, 000
Nelson 4, 000 475.71
= 8.41 9

3, 750
Oaks 3, 750 475.71
= 7.88 8

1, 000
Rasband 1, 000 475.71
= 2.10 3

1, 500
Reniund 1, 500 475.71
= 3.15 4

Total 76
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 Suppose the MSD is 499.65
State Population Quotient MSD=499.65 Number of Representatives

3, 250
Andersen 3, 250 499.65
= 6.50 7

2, 750
Ballard 2, 750 499.65
= 5.50 6

3, 000
Bednar 3, 000 = 6.00 6
499.65

2, 500
Christofferson 2, 500 499.65
= 5.00 5

3, 500
Cook 3, 500 499.65
= 7.00 7

3, 300
Hales 3, 300 = 6.60 7
499.65

2, 500
Holland 2, 500 499.65
= 5.00 5

2, 250
Neilsen 2, 250 499.65
= 4.50 5

4, 000
Nelson 4, 000 499.65
= 8.01 9

3, 750
Oaks 3, 750 499.65
= 7.51 8

1, 000
Rasband 1, 000 499.65
= 2.00 2

1, 500
Reniund 1, 500 499.65
= 3.00 3
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Total 70
 WEBSTER’S METHOD OF APPORTIONMENT

• The total of the rounded quotas is not equal to the required number of
representatives, a modified standard divisor by trial and error must be
less than the standard divisor when the total of the rounded sub-quotas is
less than the required number of representatives.
• If the sum of the rounded sub-quotas is greater than the required
number of representatives, the modified standard divisor must be greater
than the standard divisor.
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 Quotient MSD = 470 No. of
State Population Quotient Rounded Value Representatives

3, 250 3, 250
Andersen 3, 250 475.71
= 6.83 7 470
= 6.91 7

2, 750 2, 750
Ballard 2, 750 475.71
= 5.78 6 470
= 5.85 6

3, 000 3, 000
Bednar 3, 000 475.71
= 6.31 6 470
= 6.38 6

2, 500 2, 500
Christofferson 2, 500 475.71
= 5.26 5 470
= 5.32 5

3, 500 3, 500
Cook 3, 500 475.71
= 7.36 7 470
= 7.45 7

3, 300 3, 300
Hales 3, 300 = 6.94 7 = 7.02 7
475.71 470

2, 500 2, 500
Holland 2, 500 475.71
= 5.26 5 470
= 5.32 5

2, 250 2, 250
Neilsen 2, 250 475.71
= 4.73 5 470
= 4.79 5

4, 000 4, 000
Nelson 4, 000 = 8.41 8 = 8.51 9
475.71 470

3, 750 3, 750
Oaks 3, 750 475.71
= 7.88 8 470
= 7.98 8

1, 000 1, 000
Rasband 1, 000 = 2.10 2 = 2.13 2
475.71 470

1, 500 1, 500
Reniund 1, 500 = 3.15 3 = 3.19 3
475.71 470 21
Total 69 70
 HUNTINGTON-HILL METHOD OF APPORTIONMENT

1. Calculate the standard quota, lower quotas and upper quotas of each of
the subgroups
2. Determine the geometric mean ( 𝐿𝑈 ) (round to two decimal places) of
each sub-group’s lower quota and upper quota.
 If the standard quota is less than the geometric mean, round the quota
down
 If the standard quota is greater than or equal to the geometric mean,
round the quota up
3. If the sum of the rounded standard quotas equals the number of
representatives, you are done, otherwise, choose a modified standard
divisor and calculate the modified quotas and rounded modified quotas.
Repeat the process until the required number is achieved. 22
 Standard Quota (U) Geometric Mean No. of
State Population Standard Quota Standard Quota (L) Representa
tives
3, 250 7
Andersen 3, 250 475.71
= 6.83 6 6.48 7

2, 750
Ballard 2, 750 475.71
= 5.78 5 6 5.48 6

3, 000 7
Bednar 3, 000 475.71
= 6.31 6 6.48 6

2, 500
Christofferson 2, 500 475.71
= 5.26 5 6 5.48 5

3, 500
Cook 3, 500 475.71
= 7.36 7 8 7.48 7

3, 300
Hales 3, 300 = 6.94 6 7 6.48 7
475.71

2, 500
Holland 2, 500 475.71
= 5.26 5 6 5.48 5

2, 250
Neilsen 2, 250 475.71
= 4.73 4 5 4.47 5

4, 000
Nelson 4, 000 = 8.41 8 9 8.49 8
475.71

3, 750
Oaks 3, 750 475.71
= 7.88 7 8 7.48 8

1, 000
Rasband 1, 000 = 2.10 2 3 2.45 2
475.71

1, 500 4
Reniund 1, 500 475.71
= 3.15 3 3.46 3

Total 64 76 69 23
 Standard Quota (U) Geometric Mean No. of
State Population Quotient MSD=470.5 Standard Quota (L) Representa
tives
3, 250 7
Andersen 3, 250 470.5
= 6.91 6 6.48 7

2, 750
Ballard 2, 750 470.5
= 5.84 5 6 5.48 6

3, 000 7
Bednar 3, 000 470.5
= 6.38 6 6.48 6

2, 500
Christofferson 2, 500 470.5
= 5.31 5 6 5.48 5

3, 500
Cook 3, 500 470.5
= 7.44 7 8 7.48 7

3, 300
Hales 3, 300 = 7.01 7 7 7 7
470.5

2, 500
Holland 2, 500 470.5
= 5.31 5 6 5.48 5

2, 250
Neilsen 2, 250 470.5
= 4.78 4 5 4.47 5

4, 000
Nelson 4, 000 = 8.50 8 9 8.49 9
470.5

3, 750
Oaks 3, 750 470.5
= 7.97 7 8 7.48 8

1, 000
Rasband 1, 000 = 2.13 2 3 2.45 2
470.5

1, 500 4
Reniund 1, 500 470.5
= 3.19 3 3.46 3

Total 65 76 70 24
References:

Alejan, R.O., Veloria, E.V., Bonghanoy, G.B., Ondaro, J.E., Sumalinog, J.D. (2018)
Mathematics in the Modern World, MUTYA Publishing house

Aufmann, R.N., Lockwood, J. S., Nation, R.D., Clegg, D.K. “Mathematical Excursions”
(3rd edition), Brooks Cole CENGAGE Learning

Baltazar, E. C., Ragasa, C., Evangelista, J. (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World.
C & E Publishing Inc.

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