How do you explain ratios and proportions?

Question

mauricio0815sh · Accepted Answer

Step 1
The RATIO is defined as a comparison of two quantities. The two quantities need to belong to the same unit. The ratio is represented by

a : b

It basically indicates how many times one quantity is contained within the other quantity.
If we have a ratio of two quantities, quantity X and Quantity Y, as

a : b

, it means for every b item of quantity Y we have a items of quantity X.
The ratio can be represented as

a : b

or

\frac{a}{b}

Step 2
For example, If in a basket there are 12 apples and 10 mangoes.
Whereas the ratio of mangoes to apples is

10 : 12

This can also be written as

\frac{10}{12} = \frac{5}{6}

This means for every 5 mangoes we have 6 apples.
Step 3
PROPORTION:
This is a term used that says that two or more ratios are equal.
If

a : b

is equal to

x : y

then we say that the ratios are in proportion.
For example: If in a basket there are 12 apples and 10 mangoes.
Then the ratio of apples to mangoes is

\frac{12}{10}

. This can also be written in a simplified form as

\frac{12}{10} = \frac{6}{5}

This means the ratios

\frac{12}{10}

and the ratio

\frac{6}{5}

are in proportion.
Or we can say that the

12 : 10

and

6 : 5

ratios are in proportion.

Hector Roberts · Accepted Answer

A ratio is an ordered pair of numbers a and b, written

\frac{a}{b}

where b does not equal 0.
A proportion is an equation in which two ratios are set equal to each other.
For example, if there is 1 boy and 3 girls you could write the ratio as:

1 : 3

(for every one boy there are 3 girls)

\frac{1}{4}

are boys and

\frac{3}{4}

are girls
0.25 are boys (by dividing 1 by 4)
25% are boys (0.25 as a percentage)

How do you explain ratios and proportions?

Answered question

Answer & Explanation

New Questions in Pre-Algebra