Ratios and Proportions

Ratios/Rates

The ratio is the relationship of two numbers.

For example you have 2 flashlights and 5 batteries. To compare the ratio between the flashlights and the batteries we divide the set of flashlights with the set of batteries.

The ratio is 2 to 5 or 2:5 or 2/5. All these describe the ratio in different forms of fractions. The ratio can consequently be expressed as fractions or as a decimal. 2:5 in decimals is 0.4.

A rate is a little bit different than the ratio, it is a special ratio. It is a comparison of measurements that have different units, like cents and grams.

A unit rate is a rate with a denominator of 1.

Proportions/Percent

A proportion is an equation that says that two or more ratios are equal.

For example, if one package of cookies contain 20 cookies that would mean that 2 packages contain 40 cookies

A proportion is read as “x is to y as a is to b”.