Learning Target: I

understand what a
proportion is and can
determine
proportionality.

What is a proportion?
A proportion is an equation that states that
two ratios (fractions) are equal
It is formed by two fractions with an equal
sign in between.
It looks like this:

1 2

2 4

How do we determine if two

ratios form a proportion?
To determine if two ratios are
proportional to one another:

Cross multiply both sides

If the numbers match, then the ratios are
equal and therefore proportional
*you can also use cross
multiplying to determine if
one ratio is larger than the
other

Example 1
Determine if 6/8 and
3/4 are proportional.

Since the cross products

are both 24, the 2 ratios
are proportional.

6 3
?
8 4
6 * 4 24
8 * 3 24

Example 2
Determine if 3/10 and
15/25 are proportional.

Since the cross products

are different, the ratios
are NOT in proportion.
Also, since 10 * 15 is
larger than 3 * 25, 15/25
is a bigger ratio than
3/10

3 15
?
10 25
3 * 25 75
10 *15 150

Proportions are used to predict

future events