RATIO AND PROPORTION REVIEW

A ratio, which is a comparison of two numbers by division, is the quotient

obtained when the first number is divided by the second, nonzero number.

Since a ratio is the quotient of two numbers divided in a definite order, care must
be taken to write each ratio in its intended order.

For example, the ratio of 3 to 1 is written

3/1 (as a fraction) or 3 : 1 (using a colon)

while the ratio of 1 to 3 is written

1/3 (as a fraction) or 1 : 3 (using a colon)

In general, the ratio of a to b can be expressed as

a/b or a÷ b or a:b

To find the ratio of two quantities, both quantities must be expressed in the same
unit of measure before their quotient is determined.

For example, to compare the value of a nickel 1 and a penny, we first convert the

nickel to 5 pennies and then find the ratio, which is 5/1 or 5 : 1. Therefore, a nickel
is worth 5 times as much as a penny. The ratio has no unit of measure.

Equivalent Ratios
Since the ratio 5/1 is a fraction, we can use the multiplication property of 1 to find
many equivalent ratios. For example

5 5 2 10
1 = 1 x 2 = 2

5 5 3 15
1 = 1 x 3 = 3

5 5 x 5x
1 = 1 x x = 3x (x ≠ 0)

From the last example, we see that 5x and lx represent two numbers whose ratio is 5:1

In general, if a, b, and x are numbers (b ≠0, x ≠ 0), ax and bx represent two numbers
whose ratio is a : b

Also, since a ratio such as 24/16 is a fraction, we can divide the numerator and the
denominator of the fraction by the same nonzero number to find equivalent ratios.
For example

24 24 2 12
16 = 16 ÷ 2 = 8

24 24 4 6
16 = 16 ÷ 4 = 4

24 24 8 3
16 = 16 ÷ 8 = 2

A ratio is expressed in simplest form when both terms of the ratio are whole numbers
and when there is no whole number other than 1 that is a factor of both of these terms.

Therefore, to express the ratio 24/16 in simplest form, we divide both terms by 8, the
largest integer that will divide both 24 and 16. Therefore 24/16 in simplest form is 3/2.

Continued Ratio
Comparisons can also be made for three or more quantities.

For example, the length of a rectangular solid is 75 centimeters, the width is 60

centimeters, and the height is 45 centimeters. The ratio of the length to the width is
75 : 60, and the ratio of the width to the height is 60 : 45. We can write these two
ratios in an abbreviated form as the continued ratio 75 : 60 : 45.

A continued ratio is a comparison of three or more quantities in a definite order.

Here, the ratio of the measures of the length, width, and height (in that order) of the
rectangular solid is 75 : 60 : 45 or, in simplest form, 5 : 4 : 3.

In general, the ratio of the numbers a, b, and c (b ≠0, c ≠ 0) is a : b : c.

EXAMPLE 1

An oil tank with a capacity of 200 gallons contains 50 gallons of oil.

a) Find the ratio of the number of gallons of oil in the tank to the capacity of the tank
b) What part of the tank is full?

Solution

number of gallons of oil∈tank 50 1

a. Ratio = = = or 1:4
capacity of tank 200 4
b. The tank is 1/4 full.
EXAMPLE 2
Compute the ratio of 6.4 ounces to 1 pound

Solution First, express both quantities in the same unit of measure. Use the fact that
1 pound = 16 ounces

6.4 ounces 6.4 ounces 6.4 10 64 32 2

1 pound = 16 ounces = 16 x =
10 160 ÷ 32 = 5

Answer: The ratio is 2 : 5.

EXAMPLE 3
3 1
Express the ratio 1 to 1 in simplest form
4 2

Solution Since a ratio is the quotient obtained when the first number is divided by
3 1
the second, divide 1 by 1
4 2

3 1 7 3 7 2 14 7
1 ÷ 1 = ÷ = x = =
4 2 4 2 4 3 12 6

7
Answer The ratio in simplest form is or 7:6
6

EXERCISES

1. Last week, Melanie answered 24 out of 30 questions correctly on a test. This week
she answered 20 out of 24 questions correctly. On which test did Melanie have better
results? Explain your answer
2. Explain why the ratio 1.5 : 4.5 is not in simplest form

For items 3–12, express each ratio in simplest form:

a. as a fraction
b. using a colon

3. 36 to 12 4. 48 to 24 5. 40 to 25 6. 12 to 3 7. 5 to 4
8. 8 to 32 9. 40 to 5 10. 0.2 to 8 11. 72 to 1.2 12. 3c to 5c

13. If the ratio of two numbers is 10 : 1, the larger number is how many times the smaller
number?
14. If the ratio of two numbers is 8 : 1, the smaller number is what fractional part of the
larger number?
For items 15-19, express each ratio in simplest form

3 1
15. to
4 4
1 3
16. 1 to
8 8

17. 1.2 to 2.4

18. 0.75 to 0.25
19. 6 to 0.25

For items 20-30 express each ratio in simplest form.

20. 80 m to 16 m
21. 75 g to 100 g
22. 36 cm to 72 cm
23. 54 g to 90 g
24. 75 cm to 350 cm
25. 8 ounces to 1 pound
26. 1 ft to 1 in
27. 1 yd to 1 ft
28. 1 hr to 15 min
29. 6 pesos to 50 cents
1 1
30. 1 hr to
2 2

Applying Skills
31. A baseball team played 162 games and won 90.What is the ratio of the number of
games won to the number of games played?
32. A student did six of ten problems correctly.What is the ratio of the number right to
the number wrong?
33. The perimeter of a rectangular garden is 30 feet, and the width is 5 feet.
Find the ratio of the length of the rectangle to its width in simplest form.
34. A woodworker is fashioning a base for a trophy. He starts with a block of
wood whose length is twice its width and whose height is one-half its
width. Write, in simplest form, the continued ratio of length to width to
height.
35. The ages of three teachers are 48, 28, and 24 years. Find, in simplest form,
the continued ratio of these ages from oldest to youngest.
PROPORTION
A proportion is an equation that states that two ratios are equal. Since the ratio 4 : 20 is
equal to 1:5 we may write the proportion as

4:20 = 1:5 or 4/20 = 1/5

Each of these proportions is read as “4 is to 20 as 1 is to 5.”

The general form of a proportion may be written as:

a:b = c:d or a/b = c/d ( b≠0, d≠0)

Each of these proportions is read as “a is to b as c is to d.” There are four terms in

this proportion, namely, a, b, c, and d. The outer terms, a and d, are called the
extremes of the proportion. The inner terms, b and c, are the means.

In the proportion, 4 : 20 = 1 : 5, the product of the means, 20(1), is equal to the

product of the extremes, 4(5)

In any proportion, a/b = c/d, we can show that the product of the means is equal to the
product of the extremes, ad=bc. Since ab=cd is an equation, we can multiply both
members by bd, the least common denominator of the fractions in the equation.

Therefore, we have shown that the following statement is always true:

In a proportion, the product of the means is equal to the product of the extremes.
In a proportion, the cross products are equal.

EXAMPLE 1
4 5
Show that = is a proportion
16 20

Solution:

Method 1: Reduce each ratio to simplest form.

4 4 4 1 5 5 5 1
= ÷ = = ÷ =
16 16 4 4 20 20 5 4
 1 4 5
Since each ratio is equal to , the ratios and is a proportion.
4 16 20

Method 2: Show that the cross products are equal

4 5
Since the product is both equal to 80, then the ratios and is a
16 20
proportion.

Method 3:Use a calculator. Enter the proportion. If the ratios are equal,
then the calculator will display 1. If the ratios are not equal, the calculator
will display 0.

4 5
Answer Any one of the three methods shows that and is a
16 20
proportion.

EXAMPLE 2

Solve the proportion 25 : q = 5 : 2 for q.

EXAMPLE 3

EXAMPLE 4