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Writing ratios

Ratios are a way to compare two or more things.

In this figure there are 5 red tiles and 3 blue tiles. We say the ratios of red tiles to blue tiles is "5 to 3".
There are three different ways to write the same ratio:

  • 5 to 3
  • 5:3
  • $\frac{5}{3}$

All three ratios mean that there are 5 reds and 3 blues.

 

Example 1
What is the ratio of blues to greens?

  • Blue: Green = 4:3 [The ratio 3:4 is wrong because the numbers in the ratio MUST go in the same order as the words in the ratio. Blue was listed first, so 4 must come first in the ratio.)
  • $\frac{4}{3}\mbox{  and  4 to 3}$ would also be correct methods for writing the ratjio of blu

What is the ratio of blues to greens to yellows?

  • Blue : Green : Yellow = 4 : 3 : 2

 

Example 2

What is the ratio of red tiles to yellow tiles to green tiles‌

There are many different ratios that correctly represent the ratio of reds to yellows to greens. Three possible ratios are 4 : 6 : 8 or 2 : 3 : 4 or 6 : 9 : 12

The ratio 4:6:8 is represented by counting all the tiles. The ratio 2:3:4 is represented by counting the columns.  The ratio 6:9:12 is represented by adding one more row and then counting all the tiles.
 

 

 

Self-Check

Q1: What is the ratio of yellows to greens? [show answer]

Q2: What is the ratio of blues to the total number os squares? [show answer]

Q3: In the word "MATHEMATICS" what is the ratio of consonants to vowels? [show answer]

 

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