Ratio and Proportion Concepts

Ratio:

- The ratio of two quantities a and b of same units is the fraction x/y, where b ≠ 0

- The fraction x/y can be represented as x:y

Different types of ratios are:

1) Duplicate ratio: It is the ratio of squares of two numbers.

x x x2
Duplicate ratio of the fraction is given as: = or x : y = x2 : y2
y y y2

2) Sub-duplicate ratio: It is the ratio between square roots of two numbers.

x x x
Duplicate ratio of the fraction is given as: = or x : y = x : y
y y y

3) Triplicate ratio: It is the ratio of cubes of two numbers.

x x x3
Triplicate ratio of the fraction is given as =
y y y3

4) Sub- Triplicate ratio: It is the ratio between cube roots of two numbers
x x x(1/3)
Sub-Triplicate ratio of the fraction is given as =
y y y(1/3)

5) Compound ratio: It is the ratio of product of first terms in every ratio to that of product of second term in every
ratio.

For example:
Compound ratio of (a : x), (b : y), (c : z) is (abc : xyz)

6) Inverse ratio: The ratio formed by interchanging their old places in the ratio to new

The inverse ratio of 5 : 8 is 8 : 5.

Proportion:

1) Proportion is the equality of two ratios.

When (a : b = x : y) is represented as (a : b :: x : y), then a, b, x, y are said to be in proportion.

In (a : b :: x : y), a and y are called as extremes and b and x are called as mean terms.

Product of means = Product of extremes

2) Mean proportion: Mean proportion between x and y is given as xy

3) Third proportion: If p : q = q : s, then s is called as third proportional to p and q.

4) Fourth proportion: If u : v = x : y, then y is the fourth proportional of u, v and x.

Quick Tips and Tricks

1) Comparison of ratios:
x a
If (x : y) > ( a : b) → >
y b
2) Proportion

4) Variation:
- If a = kb for some constant k, then we can say that a is directly proportional to b.
- If ba =k for some constant k, then we can say that a is inversely proportional to b.

5) If ratio between first and second quantity m : n = a : x, second and third quantity n : p = b : y, fourth and fifth
quantity p : q = c : z, then m : n : p : q can be easily solved by using the trick shown below:

m : n : p : q = abc : xbc: xyc : xyz

6) If a number a is divided in the ratio x : y,

ax
1) First part:
(x + y)

ay
2) Second part:
(x + y)