Proportions

A proportion states that 2 ratios or rates are equivalent.

$20 $40
Ex:  Read “$20 is to 4 hrs as $40 is to 8 hrs”
4 hrs 8 hrs

To determine if a proportion is true:

Method 1: Reduce both fractions to lowest terms. If they are equal, it is true.
20 3 20 4 5
Examples: = ÷ =
24 4 24 4 6
5 3
= False
6 4

25 30 25 5 5 30 6 5
= ÷ = ÷ =
40 48 40 5 8 48 6 8
5 5
= True
8 8

Method 2: Compare cross products (cross multiply). If they are equal, it is true.

5 10
Examples: =
9 18
5∙18=90
9∙10=90 True

3 24
=
4.25 34
3∙34=102
4.25∙24=102 True

Solving Proportions
If we know any 3 numbers in a proportion, we can find the fourth. We use cross products.
“Cross-multiply, then divide.”
Examples: Find the unknown number in the proportion:
16 32
=
𝑥 20

1. Cross-multiply the diagonal that has numbers on both ends.

16 ∙ 20 = 320

2. Divide this answer by the number diagonal from the x.

320 ÷ 32 = 10
The unknown number is 10.
 Find the unknown number in the proportion. Round your answer to the nearest
hundredth if necessary.
𝑥 4
=
25 20

25 ∙ 4 = 100 100 ÷ 20 = 5
The unknown number is 5.

Find the unknown number in the proportion. Round your answer to the nearest
hundredth if necessary.
2.2 13
=
5 𝑥

5 ∙ 13 = 65 65 ÷ 2.2 = 29.55
The unknown number is 29.55.

A proportion says that two things are occurring at the same ratio or rate. We can use this idea
in many applications.

Examples:
Mike’s car can travel 163 miles on 6.4 gallons of gas. How far can it travel on 14 gallons of gas?
Round to the nearest whole mile.

We are comparing miles to gallons. So, we set up two rates which compare miles to
gallons, in the same order, and set them equal to create a proportion. Use a variable for
the unknown amount.
𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠
=
𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑠

Be careful not to mix up the units. If “miles” is in the numerator in the first rate, “miles” must
also be in the numerator of the second rate.

163 𝑥
=
6.4 14

163 ∙ 14 = 2282 2282 ÷ 6.4 = 357 miles

If 2 pounds of fertilizer will cover 50 square feet of garden, how many pounds are needed for
225 square feet?
2 𝑥
=
50 225

2 ∙ 225 = 450 450 ÷ 50 = 9 pounds of fertilizer

2
A U.S. map has a scale of 1 inch to 75 miles. Lake Superior is 4.75 inches long on the map.
What is the lake’s actual length in miles?
1 4.75
=
75 𝑥

75 ∙ 4.75 = 356.25 356.25 ÷ 1 = 356.25 miles

Twenty-two guitar lessons cost $396. Find the cost of 12 lessons.

22 12
=
396 𝑥

396 ∙ 12 = 4752 4752 ÷ 22 = $216