Ratios

A ratio compares two quantities.

6
There are 3 basic ways to write a ratio: 6 to 5 6:5
5
We are going to use the fraction form and simplify if possible.
RATIOS ARE NOT WRITTEN AS MIXED NUMBERS OR WHOLE NUMBERS!

The quantity mentioned first is written first in the ratio. Order is important!

Examples: Write the ratio of the hours worked on a job:

6 hours to 3 hours
6 3 2
÷ = (reduce) Do not write ratios as whole numbers!
3 3 1

Write the ratio of 15 people in a large van to 6 people in a small van.

15 3 5
÷ = (reduce) Do not write ratios as mixed numbers!
6 3 2

Decimal Numbers in Ratios:

Examples: Write the ratio of the length of the longest side to the shortest side.

2.4 2.4

3.6
Longest side: 3.6 Shortest side: 2.4
3.6 10 36
∙ = (make whole numbers by multiplying by 10)
2.4 10 24
36 12 3
÷ = (reduce)
24 12 2

Mixed Numbers in Ratios:

1
Example: Write the ratio of 2 days to 2 14 days. (2 = 2.25)
4

2 100 200
∙ = (multiply by 100 to remove decimals)
2.25 100 225
200 15 8
÷ = (reduce)
225 15 9
Measurements in ratios must be the same: feet to feet, hours to hours, pints to pints, etc.
If given 2 different units, convert the larger unit to the smaller units to avoid fractions.
Examples: Find the ratio of 2 days to 8 hours.
2 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠
1 day = 24 hours; 2 days = 48 hours
8 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠

48 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 8 6
÷ = (reduce) Do not write ratios as whole numbers!
8 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 8 1

Rates
A ratio compares two measurements with the same type of units.
A rate compares measurements with different units.

Ex: 160 dollars for 8 hours (money to time)

450 miles on 15 gallons (distance to capacity)

Example: You were paid $160 for 8 hours of work. Find your rate of pay.

$160 8 $20
÷ = 𝑜𝑟 $20 𝑝𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟
8 ℎ𝑟𝑠 8 1 ℎ𝑟
When the denominator of a rate is 1, it is called a unit rate.

Example: We traveled 337.5 miles on 13.5 gallons of gas. Find the unit rate.
(What was our gas mileage?)

337.5 10 3375
∙ = (make whole numbers by multiplying by 10)
13.5 10 135
3375 135 25
÷ = = 25𝑚𝑝𝑔 (reduce)
135 135 1

Rates may not show a denominator when simplified.

Finding the Best Buy Based on Cost per Unit:

The cost per unit is a rate that tells how much you pay for one item or one unit.
Ex: $1.95 per gallon, $2.98 per pound

Example: The local store charges the following prices for pancake syrup. Find the best buy.
12 fl oz for $1.32
24 fl oz for $2.88
$1.32 ÷ 12 = $0.11 per oz. $2.88 ÷ 24 = $0.12 per oz.
12 oz. for $1.32 is the best buy.