What is a ratio?

A ratio is simply a quotient of two numbers. It allows us to see the relative sizes of
quantities. For example, if there are 5 dogs and 10 cats in an animal shelter, then we say
5 1
that the ratio of dogs to cats in the shelter is or . When dealing with three or more
10 2
quantities, it is helpful to write ratios with a colon. Say for example, there are 15 mouse in
the animal shelter. The ratio therefore of dogs to cats to mouse is 5 :10 :15 or 1 :2:3 .
Basic ratio manipulation
Explanation by example: The ratio of boys to girls in my math class is 3:4. Find the ratio
of boys and girls to the total number of students. Let b , g and t be the number of boys,
g 4
girls and total number of students, respectively. First, we write= . Then we add 1 on
b 3
g 4 b
both sides to get +1= +1. The trick is to transform the 1 on the left side into . In
b 3 b
g b 7 g +b 7 b 3
doing so, we get + = . Simplifying this we get = . But g+b=t , so = . By
b b 3 b 3 t 7
g 4
multiplying the two ratios, we can derive = . Suppose instead that we are given the
t 7
b 3
ratio = . To get the other ratios, we express t as b+ g then take the reciprocal and
t 7
b+ g 7
subtract one on both sides to get −1= −1. The trick is to express 1 on the left side
b 3
b g 4 g 4
as . In doing so, we get = . By multiplying the two ratio, we can derive = .
b b 3 t 7
Ratio problems with two conditions

Let g and r be the number of green marbles and red marbles, respectively. The first
g 2
condition is that = . Now after he adds and removes marbles, the number of green
g +r 5
marble should be g+ 4 and the number of red marbles should be r −10. Following the
second condition, our equation should be g+ 4=2(r−10). Solving the two equations
gives us r =18 and g=12, so our answer is 30 marbles.

Definition of percent
a p
Percent means per hundred. Specifically, if a is p% of b, then =
b 100
 p
If a number x is increase by p%, then the result is x (1+ ).
100
p
If a number x is decrease by p%, then the result is x (1− )
100

Percentage problem

Mixture problem