- Ratios and Unit Rates
- Home
- Writing Ratios Using Different Notations
- Writing Ratios for Real-World Situations
- Identifying Statements that Describe a Ratio
- Simplifying a Ratio of Whole Numbers: Problem Type 1
- Simplifying a Ratio of Decimals
- Finding a Unit Price
- Using Tables to Compare Ratios
- Computing Unit Prices to Find the Better Buy
- Word Problem on Unit Rates Associated with Ratios of Whole Numbers: Decimal Answers
- Solving a Word Problem on Proportions Using a Unit Rate
- Solving a One-Step Word Problem Using the Formula d = rt
- Function Tables with One-Step Rules
- Finding Missing Values in a Table of Equivalent Ratios
- Using a Table of Equivalent Ratios to Find a Missing Quantity in a Ratio
- Writing an Equation to Represent a Proportional Relationship
Identifying Statements that Describe a Ratio
We should remember that certain words or phrases, such as ‘in’, ‘per’, ‘for every’, ‘out of’, and ‘to’, indicate ratios. We look for such words or phrases in word problems on ratios and reduce the statements to ratio notation and solve them accordingly.
For every 5 boys on a softball team there is 1 girl. What is the ratio of boys to girls?
Solution
Step 1:
Here the words we look for to indicate a ratio are ‘for every’.
Step 2:
The given statement means there are 5 boys to 1 girl or the ratio of boys to girls is 5 to 1 or 5:1
At the carnival, for every 8 games, there are 9 rides. Find the ratio of rides to games.
Solution
Step 1:
Here the words we look for to indicate a ratio are ‘for every’.
Step 2:
The given statement means there are 9 rides to 8 games or the ratio of rides to games is 9 to 8 or 9:8.
The cost of apples is $1.23 per apple. What is the ratio of dollars to apples?
Solution
Step 1:
The word we look for to indicate a ratio is ‘per’.
Step 2:
The statement means that each apple costs $1.18. The ratio of dollars to apples is $1.18 to 1 apple or 1.18:1; $\frac{1.18}{1}$
Out of 5 children, 3 are girls. What is the ratio of girls to children?
Solution
Step 1:
The words we look for to indicate a ratio here are ‘out of’.
Step 2:
The statement means that the ratio of girls to children is 3:5.
1 in 3 persons is single. what is the ratio of single persons to all people?
Solution
Step 1:
The word we look for to indicate a ratio is ‘in’.
Step 2:
The given statement means that the ratio of single persons to all people is 1:3.