Understanding Ratios | A Guide to Comparing Quantities and Proportions

Ratio

A ratio is a way to compare two or more quantities in terms of their relative sizes or amounts

A ratio is a way to compare two or more quantities in terms of their relative sizes or amounts. It is expressed as the quotient or division of two numbers. Ratios can be written in different ways, but the most common notation is using a colon (:) or a fraction (/).

For example, consider a scenario where we have a class of 20 students, with 12 boys and 8 girls. To express the ratio of boys to girls, we would write it as 12:8 or as a fraction 12/8. This ratio tells us that for every 12 boys, there are 8 girls in the class.

Ratios can be simplified by dividing both sides of the ratio by their greatest common divisor. In our example, we can simplify the ratio 12:8 by dividing both sides by 4, resulting in a simplified ratio of 3:2.

Ratios can also be used to compare more than two quantities. For instance, if we have a bag of colored candies with 5 red, 3 blue, and 2 green candies, we can express the ratio of red to blue to green candies as 5:3:2 or as a fraction 5/3/2. This ratio tells us the proportion of each color in the bag.

Ratios are useful in various mathematical problems, such as scaling, proportionality, and solving proportional relationships. They are also used in real-life situations, like recipes, financial analysis, and business comparisons.

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