Equivalent Ratios

Equivalent ratios are two or more ratios that show the same relationship
between two quantities or amount.
When simplified they would have the same ratio but equivalent ratios are
not simplified.
Equivalent ratios are found by multiplying both sides of the ratio by the
same factor.

Ratio Table is a listing of equivalent ratios using an array of rows and columns
with one side of the ratio in the left column and the other side on the right.

EXAMPLE:
What are some equivalent ratios for the ratio 9 to 4?

Ratio Table
9 4 Factor used
18 8 Times 2
36 16 Times 4
81 36 Times 9
90 40 Times 10
135 60 Times 15


Finding equivalent Ratios of larger quantities:
1. Find the ratio of A to B A:B for the problem
2. Find the common factor needed to solve the problem
3. Multiply both sides of the ratio by the common factor to find the
equivalent ratio for the problem
EXAMPLE:
To make yellow icing you mix 6 drops of yellow food coloring to 1 cup of white
icing. How much yellow food coloring should you mix to get 5 cups of yellow
icing?
What is the A:B ratio for the problem?
6 drops to 1 cup
What is the common factor to solve the problem?
Times five
Use ratio to find the amount of food coloring needed for five cups of
icing?
Multiply both sides of the ratio by 5 to get the equivalent ratio
30 to 5
You need 30 drops of food coloring to make 5 cups of yellow icing

Finding equivalent Ratios of smaller quantities:
1. Find the ratio of A to B A:B for the problem
2. Fill in a ratio table looking for patterns
3. Divide or subtract both sides of the ratio to find the equivalent ratio for
the problem
EXAMPLE:
In recent years, Joey Chestnut won the hotdog eating contest by eating nearly
66 hotdogs in 12 seconds. If he eat at a constant rate determine about how
many hot dogs he ate ever two minutes.

What is the A:B ratio for the problem?
66 hot dogs to 12 minutes
What is the common factor to solve the problem
12 minutes 2 minutes = 6
66 6 =11
Complete the ratio table using the patterns

Hot dogs 66 55 44 33 22 11
Minutes 12 10 8 6 4 2


Divide each quantity by one or more common factor until you reach a
quantity of two.


Hot dogs 66 33 11
minutes 12 6 2


Joey ate 11 hot dogs every 2 minutes
-2 -2
-2
-2
-11 -11 -11
-11
-11
-2
2
3
2 3