Fractions and Ratios

Ratios: Ratio is a method to compare the values of two quantities.

However, in order to compare them they must have the same units.

 Ratios are written in the form 3 : 4 in which the : is read as “to”.

Ratios can also be written in the form of fractions. 3 : 4 can also
be written in the form 3/4.

 A ratio like 375 : 400 can be hard to solve sometimes. We can

reduce the numbers into smaller numbers by finding the HCF
(Highest common factor) and dividing the numbers by the HCF.

 The HCF of 375 and 400 is 25 hence we can divide it by 25

which gives us the ratio 15 : 16.

Q) There are two bags A and B with masses of 75kg and 90kg
respectively. Find the ratio of mass of bag A to bag B.

Ans)
HCF of 75 & 90 is 15. Therefore divide both numbers by 15
75 ÷ 15 = 5 90 ÷ 15 = 6
Hence ratio is 5 : 6

Proportions: Proportions shows the equality between two ratios. Two

ratios which are in proportion are equal.

Example:
Height of Eiffel Tower / Height of Trees =
Height of trees / Height of a child

 Similarly we can use the same concept with numbers:

4/5 = 16/20
Hence these two ratios are in proportion.
 Equivalent ratios: Equivalent ratio is like equivalent fractions so
to find the equivalent ratio we need to write it in the form of a
 fraction. To find the equivalent ratio we need to multiply or
divide the numerator or denominator with the same number.

Example: Give 2 equivalent ratios of 2 : 8

2/8 ÷ 2 = 1/4 = 1 : 4
2/8 × 2 = 4/16 = 4 : 16

a/b=c/d

 Proportion problems:

Q) The cost of 15 apples is $75. What is the cost of 32 apples?

Ans) 15 apples = $75

32 apples = ?
1 apple = 75 ÷ 15 = $5
32 apples = 32 × 5 = $160

Cross multiplication method :

15 apples = $75
32 apples = $ x

15x = 32 × 75
15x = 2400
x = 2400 / 15
x = $160

Fractions: Fractions tell you about a part of the whole.

 Here the pizza is divided into 4 equal parts but a student ate 1
part and we are left with only 3 parts. We will write this as the
fraction 3/4 in which 3 is the numerator (the number of parts we
have) and 4 is the denominator (the number of total parts).

 Fractions are written as Numerator / Denominator

Types of fraction:

 Proper fraction: When the numerator is part of the denominator

and it shows it as part of the whole.
Example: 3/4

 Improper fraction: When the numerator is more than the

denominator and represents the mixture of both a whole and a
proper fraction.
Example: 7/4

 Mixed fraction: The improper fraction can be written in the form

of a mixed fraction form as it is mixture of a whole number and
 a fraction:
Example: 7/4 = 1 ¾

 Like fraction: Fractions with the same denominator.

Example: 1/5 , 3/5 , 4/5

 Unlike fractions: Fractions with different denominators are

unlike fractions.
Example: 1/3 , 3/4 , 7/9

Converting mixed to improper fraction:

1 ¾ can be written as 7/4. This is how

Multiply the denominator of the mixed fraction and multiply it with

the whole number and add it to the numerator.

Converting improper to mixed fractions:

7/4 can be written as 1 ¾. This is how

Divide the numerator by denominator that the quotient will be the

whole number and remainder will be the numerator, while
denominator will remain the same.

 Reciprocal of a fraction: If we have two non-zero numbers

whose product is one then they must be reciprocals of each
 other. To find reciprocal we just flip the numerator with the

denominator.

 Multiplying fractions with whole numbers:

We multiply the numerator with the whole number and the
denominator remains the same.
Example: 2/3 × 2 = 4/3

 Multiplying fraction with another fraction:

We multiply numerator of the two fractions and denominator of
the two fractions and form a new fraction.
Example: a / b × c / d = a × c / b × d

 Division of fractions:
We take the reciprocal of the divisor fraction and multiply it
with the dividend fraction to get the result