Rule of

Proportion
Fundamental Rule of Proportion
𝑤 𝑦
If w : x = y : z, then = provided that
𝑥 𝑧
x ≠ 0 ; z ≠ 0.
 Properties of Proportion
Cross Multiplication Property
𝑤 𝑦
If = , then wz = xy ; x ≠ 0 ; z ≠ 0.
𝑥 𝑧
Alternation Property
𝑤 𝑦 𝑤 𝑥
If = , then = ; x ≠ 0 ; y ≠ 0, z ≠ 0.
𝑥 𝑧 𝑦 𝑧
Inverse Property
𝑤 𝑦 𝑥 𝑧
If = , then = ; w≠0; x≠0 ; y≠0, z ≠ 0.
𝑥 𝑧 𝑤 𝑦
Addition Property
𝑤 𝑦 𝑤+𝑥 𝑦+𝑧
If = , then = ; x≠0 ; z ≠ 0.
𝑥 𝑧 𝑥 𝑧

𝐴𝐵 5 𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵𝐶 5+8 𝐴𝐶 13
= = =
𝐵𝐶 8 𝐵𝐶 8 𝐵𝐶 8
Subtraction Property
𝑤 𝑦 𝑤−𝑥 𝑦−𝑧
If = , then = ; x≠0 ; z ≠ 0.
𝑥 𝑧 𝑥 𝑧
Inverse Property
𝑢 𝑤 𝑦 𝑢 𝑤 𝑦
If = = , then = = =
𝑣 𝑥 𝑧 𝑣 𝑥 𝑧

𝑢+𝑤+𝑦
= 𝑘; where k is constant at
𝑣+𝑥+𝑧

proportionality and v ≠ 0 , x≠0 , z ≠ 0.

Rewrite the given proportions according
to the property indicated in the table and
Find out if the ratios in the rewritten
Proportions are still equal.
 Use the cross-multiplication
property to verify that ratios are
equal. Simplify if necessary. One is
done for you.
Original Proportion 𝑦 𝑎
= 4y = 3a
3 4
Alternation Property 𝑦 3
of the original = 4y = 3a
𝑎 4
proportion
Inverse Property of the 3 4
original proportion
= 3a = 4y → 4𝑦 = 3𝑎
𝑦 𝑎
Addition Property of 4 ( y+3 ) = 3 ( a + 4 )
the Original Proportion 𝑦+3 𝑎+4
= 4y + 12 = 3a + 12
3 4
4y = 3a
Subtraction Property of
the original proportion 𝑦−3 𝑎−4 4 ( y-3 ) = 3 ( a - 4 )
=
3 4 4y - 12 = 3a - 12
4y = 3a
 𝑦 𝑦+𝑎
For =
3 7
7y ? 3 ( y + a )
7y ? 3y + 3a
Sum Property of 4y = 3a
the Original 𝑦 𝑎 𝑦+𝑎
Proportion + =
3 4 7 𝑎 𝑦+𝑎
For =
4 7
7a ? 4 ( y + a )
7a ? 4y + 4a
3a = 4y
Solving Problems
Involving
Proportion
 Examples Your Task
1. If m : n = 4 : 3, find 3m – 2n : 3m + n
Solution: 𝑦
Find if
𝑚 4 4𝑛 𝑠
= → 𝑚=
𝑛 3 3 5y – 2s : 10
Using m =
4𝑛 = 3y – s = 7
3
4𝑛
3 − 2𝑛 4𝑛 − 2𝑛 2𝑛 𝟐
3𝑚 − 2𝑛 3 = =
= 4𝑛 4𝑛 + 𝑛 =
3𝑚 + 𝑛 3 +𝑛 5𝑛 𝟓
3
Therefore: 3𝑚 − 2𝑛 ∶ 3𝑚 + 𝑛 = 𝟐 ∶ 𝟓
 Examples Your Task
2. If e and b represent two non-zero numbers, find the
Solve for the
ratio e : b if 2e2 + eb – 3b2 = 0
Solution: ratio u : v if
2e2 + eb – 3b2 = 0 2e + 3b = 0 e =b u2+3uv-10v2=0
( 2e + 3b )( e – b ) = 0 2𝑒 = −3𝑏 𝑒 𝑏
=
2𝑏 2𝑏 𝑏 𝑏
2e + 3b = 0
𝑒 −𝟑 𝑒 𝟏
or e – b = 0 = =
𝑏 𝟐 𝑏 𝟏

Hence: 𝑒 ∶ 𝑏 = −𝟑 ∶ 𝟐 𝒐𝒓 𝟏 ∶ 𝟏
 Examples Your Task
3. If r , s and t represent three positive numbers such
that r : s : t = 4 : 3 : 2 and r2 – s2 – t2 = 27 If g : h = 4 : 3,
Find the values of r, s and t.
evaluate
Solution:
𝑟 𝑠 𝑡 3𝑘 2 27
Let = = = 𝑘, 𝑘 ≠ 0 = 4g + h : 8g + h
4 3 2 3 3
So, r = 4k ; s = 3k ; t = 2k k =9
k = {3,-3}
r2 – s2 – t2 = 27
Notice that we need
(4k) – (3k) – (2k) = 27
2 2 2
to reject -3 because
r, s and t are positive
16k – 9k – 4k = 27
2 2 2
numbers. Therefore:
16k2 – 13k2 = 27 • 𝑟 = 4𝑘 = 4(3) = 𝟏𝟐
3k2 = 27 • 𝑠 = 3𝑘 = 3(3) = 𝟗
• 𝑡 = 2𝑘 = 2(3) = 𝟔
 Examples Your Task
𝑞 𝑟 𝑠 5𝑞 −6𝑟 −7𝑠
4. If = = = . Find x
2
Solution:
3 4 𝑥
Find the value
𝑞 𝑟 𝑠 5𝑞 −6𝑟 −7𝑠
of m if
Let = = = = 𝑘. Then
2 3 4 𝑥

and 5q – 6r – 7s = kx
𝑒 𝑓 𝑔
q = 2k , r = 3k , s = 4k = = =
1 2 3
5 ( 2k ) – 6 ( 3k ) – 7 ( 4k ) = kx
10k – 18k – 28k = kx 5𝑒 −6𝑓 −2𝑔
-36k = kx 𝑚
x = -36
Solving Problems
Involving
Proportion
Answer
 Examples Your Task
1. If m : n = 4 : 3, find 3m – 2n : 3m + n
Solution: 𝑦
Find if
𝑚 4 4𝑛 𝑠
= → 𝑚=
𝑛 3 3 5y – 2s : 10
Using m =
4𝑛 = 3y – s = 7
3
4𝑛
3 − 2𝑛 4𝑛 − 2𝑛 2𝑛 𝟐
3𝑚 − 2𝑛 3 = =
= 4𝑛 4𝑛 + 𝑛 =
3𝑚 + 𝑛 3 +𝑛 5𝑛 𝟓
3
Therefore: 3𝑚 − 2𝑛 ∶ 3𝑚 + 𝑛 = 𝟐 ∶ 𝟓
 Solution for #1 Given :
5𝑦−2𝑠
10
= 3y - s = 7
Use 3y - s = 7
- s = 7 - 3y Substitute s = -7 + 3y
s = -7 + 3y s = -7 + 3y
5𝑦−2𝑠
Substitute: = 7 s = -7 + 3 (-56)
10
5𝑦−2(−7+3𝑦) -y = 70 - 14 s = -7 - 168
=7
10
-y = 56 s = - 175
5𝑦 + 14 − 6𝑦
=7
10 y = - 56 𝑦 −𝟓𝟔
5y – 6y + 14 = 70 =
𝑠 −𝟏𝟕𝟓
 Checking for #1
5𝑦−2𝑠
Given : = 3y - s = 7
10
5(−56)−2(−175)
= 3(-56) – (-175) = 7
10
− 280 + 350
= - 168 + 175 = 7
10
70
=7=7
10

𝟕=7=7
 Examples Your Task
2. If e and b represent two non-zero numbers, find the
Solve for the
ratio e : b if 2e2 + eb – 3b2 = 0
Solution: ratio u : v if
2e2 + eb – 3b2 = 0 2e + 3b = 0 e =b u2+3uv-10v2=0
( 2e + 3b )( e – b ) = 0 2𝑒 = −3𝑏 𝑒 𝑏
=
2𝑏 2𝑏 𝑏 𝑏
2e + 3b = 0
𝑒 −𝟑 𝑒 𝟏
or e – b = 0 = =
𝑏 𝟐 𝑏 𝟏

Hence: 𝑒 ∶ 𝑏 = −𝟑 ∶ 𝟐 𝒐𝒓 𝟏 ∶ 𝟏
 Solution for #2 Solve for the ratio u : v
if u2+3uv-10v2=0

( u + 5v ) ( u – 2v ) = 0

for u + 5v = 0 for u - 2v = 0
u = - 5v u = 2v
𝑢 −5𝑣 𝑢 2𝑣
= =
𝑣 𝑣 𝑣 𝑣 ∴
𝑢 −𝟓 𝑢 𝟐 u : v = -5 : 1 or 2 : 1
= =
𝑣 𝟏 𝑣 𝟏
 Examples Your Task
3. If r , s and t represent three positive numbers such
that r : s : t = 4 : 3 : 2 and r2 – s2 – t2 = 27 If g : h = 4 : 3,
Find the values of r, s and t.
evaluate
Solution:
𝑟 𝑠 𝑡 3𝑘 2 27
Let = = = 𝑘, 𝑘 ≠ 0 = 4g + h : 8g + h
4 3 2 3 3
So, r = 4k ; s = 3k ; t = 2k k =9
k = {3,-3}
r2 – s2 – t2 = 27
Notice that we need
(4k)2 – (3k)2 – (2k)2 = 27 to reject -3 because
r, s and t are positive
16k2 – 9k2 – 4k2 = 27 numbers. Therefore:
16k2 – 13k2 = 27 • 𝑟 = 4𝑘 = 4(3) = 𝟏𝟐
3k2 = 27 • 𝑠 = 3𝑘 = 3(3) = 𝟗
• 𝑡 = 2𝑘 = 2(3) = 𝟔
 Solution for #3 Given : g : h = 4 : 3
Evaluate 4g + h : 8g + h
g:h=4:3
𝑔 4 4ℎ 16ℎ
= → 𝑔= +ℎ 16ℎ + 3ℎ 32ℎ + 3ℎ
ℎ 3 3 3 = ÷
4ℎ 32ℎ 3 3
Using g = +ℎ
3 3
4ℎ 19ℎ 35ℎ 𝟏𝟗
4𝑔+ℎ
=
4
3
+ℎ
• =
8𝑔+ℎ 4ℎ 3 3 𝟑𝟓
8 +ℎ
3

Therefore: 4g + h : 8g + h = 19 : 35
 Examples Your Task
𝑞 𝑟 𝑠 5𝑞 −6𝑟 −7𝑠
4. If = = = . Find x
2
Solution:
3 4 𝑥
Find the value
𝑞 𝑟 𝑠 5𝑞 −6𝑟 −7𝑠
of m if
Let = = = = 𝑘. Then
2 3 4 𝑥

and 5q – 6r – 7s = kx
𝑒 𝑓 𝑔
q = 2k , r = 3k , s = 4k = = =
1 2 3
5 ( 2k ) – 6 ( 3k ) – 7 ( 4k ) = kx
10k – 18k – 28k = kx 5𝑒 −6𝑓 −2𝑔
-36k = kx 𝑚
x = -36
 Solution for #4 Given
𝑒
1
=
𝑓
2
=
𝑔
3
=
5𝑒 −6𝑓 −2𝑔
𝑚
𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑚
𝑒 𝑓 𝑔 5𝑒 −6𝑓 −2𝑔
Let = = = = 𝑘. Then
1 2 3 𝑚

e = k , f = 2k , g = 3k and 5e – 6f – 2g = km

5 ( k ) – 6 ( 2k ) – 2 ( 3k ) = km

5k – 12k – 6k = km

5k – 18k = km m = - 13
- 13k = km