Department of Mathematics

Jain Global campus, Jakkasandra Post, Kanakapura Taluk, Ramanagara District -562112

Aptitude Training
On
Ratio and Proportion

DR. Vimala T,
Department of Mathematics,
FET, Jain(Deemed-to-be-University)
Ratios and Proportions
Outline:

• Ratios!
What is a Ratio?
How to Use Ratios?
How to Simplify?
Proportions!
What is a proportion?
Properties of proportions?
How to use proportions?
• Mysterious Problems…
What is a Ratio?
• A ratio is a comparison of two numbers.
• Ratios can be written in three different ways:
a to b
a:b
a
Because a ratio is a fraction, b can not be zero
b

Ratios are expressed in simplest form

How to Use Ratios?

• The ratio of boys and girls in the class is 12 to11.

This means, for every 12 boys you
can find 11 girls to match.
• There could be just 12 boys, 11
girls.
• There could be 24 boys, 22 girls.
• There could4cmbe 120 boys, 110
girls…a huge class
1cm

• The ratio of cats and dogs at my home is 2 to 1

What is the ratio if the rectangle is 8cm long and 2cm wide?
Still 4 to 1, because for every 4cm, you can find 1cm to match
How to simplify ratios?
• The ratios we saw on last The ratio of boys and girls in the class is
slide were all simplified. How 12
was it done?
11

Ratios can be expressed The ratio of the rectangle is 4

a
b
in fraction form… a 1

b The ratio of cats and dogs in my house

This allows us to do math on is
them. 2
1
How to simplify ratios?
• Now I tell you I have 12 cats and 6 dogs. Can you simplify the ratio of cats
and dogs to 2 to 1?

12 12 / 6 2
= =
6 6/6 1
Divide both numerator and
denominator by their Greatest
Common Factor 6.
How to simplify ratios?

A person’s arm is 80cm, he is 2m tall.

Find the ratio of the length of his arm to his total height
To compare them, we need to convert both
numbers into the same unit …either cm or m.

• Let’s try cm first!

arm 80cm 80cm

= =
Once we have the
same units, we can
height 2m 200cm simplify them.

= 80 = 2
200 5
How to simplify ratios?

• Let’s try m now!

arm 80cm 0.8m Once

= =
we have the
same units, they
height simplify to 1.
2m 2m

=
8
=
2
20 5
To make both numbers
integers, we multiplied both
numerator and denominator by
10
How to simplify ratios?
• If the numerator and denominator do not have the
same units it may be easier to convert to the smaller
unit so we don’t have to work with decimals…

3cm/12m = 3cm/1200cm = 1/400

2kg/15g = 2000g/15g = 400/3

5ft/70in = (5*12)in / 70 in = 60in/70in = 6/7

2g/8g = 1/4
More examples…

8 1 12 6
24 = 50 =
3 25
40 27 3
1 =
= 18 2
200 5

27 3
=
9 1
More examples…
Using ratios

The ratio of faculty members to

students in one school is 1:15. There
are 675 students. How many faculty
members are there?
faculty 1
students 15

1 = x
15 675

15x = 675

x = 45 faculty
Now, on to proportions!
What is a proportion?

a c
= A proportion is an equation
that equates two ratios
b d
The ratio of dogs and cats was 3/2
The ratio of dogs and cats now is 6/4=3/2

3 6
So we have a proportion : =
2 4
Properties of a proportion?

3 6
=
2 4 Cross Product Property

2x6=12 3x4 = 12

3x4 = 2x6
Properties of a proportion?
• Cross Product Property

a c
= ad = bc
b d
means

extremes
Properties of a proportion?
Let’s make sense of the Cross Product Property…
For any numbers a, b, c, d:
a c a c
= d = d
b d b d
a a
d = c  d b = bc
b b

ad = bc
Properties of a proportion?
• Reciprocal Property

3 6
If =
2 4 Can you see it?
If yes, can you think
Then 2 4 of why it works?
=
3 6
How about an example?
7 x
= Solve for x:
2 6
7(6) = 2x Cross Product Property

42 = 2x
21 = x
How about another example?

7 12
= Solve for x:
2 x
7x = 2(12) Cross Product Property

7x = 24
x = 24 Can you solve it
7 using Reciprocal
Property? If yes,
would it be easier?
Can you solve this one?
7 3
= Solve for x:
x −1 x
7x = (x-1)3 Cross Product Property

7x = 3x – 3
4x = -3 Again, Reciprocal
3 Property?
x = −4
 How about another example?
Ratios
x/12
and
5/10

Just as we solved for variables in earlier proportions,

we can solve for variables to find unknown sides in
similar figures.

Set up the corresponding sides as a proportion and

then solve for x.
x 5
12 10
10x = 60
x = 6
How about another example?
In the diagram we can use
proportions to determine the
height of the tree.

5/x = 8/28
8x = 140
x = 17.5 ft
How about another example?

These two buildings are

similar. Find the height of
the large building.
Now you know enough about properties,
let’s solve the Mysterious problems!
If your car gets 30 miles/gallon, how many gallons
of gas do you need to commute to school
everyday?

5 miles to home

5 miles to school

Let x be the number gallons we need for a day:

Can you solve it
30miles (5 + 5)miles 30 10 from here?
= =
1gal x _ gal 1 x
1
x= 3 Gal
 5 miles to home

5 miles to school

So you use up 1/3 gallon a day. How many gallons would

you use for a week?

Let t be the number of gallons we need for a week:

1 / 3gal t _ gal 1/ 3 t
= =
1day 5days 1 5
What property
is this?
1 t 5
= 1(5) = 3t t = Gal
3 5 3
So you use up 5/3 gallons a week (which is about 1.67
gallons). Consider if the price of gas is 3.69 dollars/gal,
how much would it cost for a week?

Let s be the sum of cost for a week:

3.69dollars s _ dollars
= 3.69 s
1gallon 1.67 gallons
=
1 1.67
3.69(1.67) = 1s s = 6.16 dollars

5 miles to home

5 miles to school
So what do you think?
5 miles

10 miles

You pay about 6 bucks a week just to get to school!

What about weekends?
If you travel twice as much on weekends, say drive
10 miles to the Mall and 10 miles back, how many
gallons do you need now? How much would it cost
totally? How much would it cost for a month?
Think proportionally! . . . It’s all about proportions!
Formulas

i. Fourth Proportional : If a : b = c: d, then d is called the

fourth proportional to a, b, c.
ii. Third Proportional : If a: b = b: c, then c is called the
third proportional to a and b.
iii. Mean Proportional : Mean proportional between a and
b is 𝑎𝑏
 Formulas

i) COMPARISON OF RATIOS : We say that

(a: b) > (c: d) ⇔⇔ (a/b)>(c /d).
i) COMPOUNDED RATIO : The compounded ratio of
the ratios (a: b), (c: d), (e : f) is (ace: bdf)
Problems 1:
The ratio of the number of ladies to gents at a party was 1:2 but when 2 ladies and
2 gents left, the ratio became 1:3. How many people were at the party originally?

a) 36
b) 24
c) 12
d) 6
Explanations:
Option: C
𝑥, 2𝑥
𝑥 − 2 : 2𝑥 − 2 = 1: 3
3𝑥 − 6 = 2𝑥 − 2
𝑥=4
𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 3𝑥
3 ∗ 4 = 12
Problems 2:
A, B and C play a cricket match. The ratio of the runs scored by them in the match is
A:B = 2:3 and B:C = 2:5. If the total runs scored by all of them are 75, the runs
scored by B are?

a) 26
b) 18
c) 12
d) 6
Explanations:

Option: b
A: B = 2 : 3
B:C = 2 : 5
A: B: C = 4: 6 :15
6/25 * 75 = 18
Problems 4:

If 𝑎: 𝑏: 𝑐 = 3: 4: 7, then the ratio 𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 : 𝑐 is equal to

a) 2:1
b) 14:3
c) 7:2
d) 1:2
Explanations:

Option: a
𝑎: 𝑏: 𝑐 = 3: 4: 7
3𝑥: 4𝑥: 7𝑥 → 14𝑥
𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 14𝑥
𝑐 = 7𝑥 ∴ 𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 : 𝑐 = 14𝑥: 7𝑥 = 2: 1
Problems 5:

2
If 𝑜𝑓 𝐴 = 75% 𝑜𝑓 𝐵 = 0.6 of C, then 𝐴: 𝐵: 𝐶 is
3
a) 2:3:3
b) 14:3:5
c) 7:2:1
d) 9:8:10
Explanations:
Option: d
According to the question,
2𝐴 75𝐵 6
= =𝐶∗
3 100 10
Above relation gives;
2 3
𝐴∗ =𝐵∗
3 4
𝐴 9
=
𝐵 8
3 3
And 𝐵 ∗ = 𝐶 ∗
4 5
𝐵
= 4: 5 = 8: 10 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑦 2
𝐶
Thus 𝐴: 𝐵: 𝐶 = 9: 8: 10
Problems 6:

In a school having roll strength 286, the ratio of boys and girls is 8:5. If
22 more girls get admitted into the school, the ratio of boys and girls
a) 12:7
b) 10:7
c) 8:7
d) 4:3
Explanations:
Option: d
Boys: girls = 8: (let the boys = 8x, girl = 5x)
Total strength = 286
8𝑥 + 5𝑥 = 286
13𝑥 = 286
286
Or, 𝑥 = = 22
13
Boys = 176 and girls = 110
22 more girls get admitted then number of girls become
5𝑥 + 22 = 110 + 22 = 132
Ratio of boys and girls = 176: 132 = 4 : 3
Problems 7:

Two numbers are in the ratio 4: 5 and their LCM is 180. The smaller
number is
a) 9
b) 15
c) 36
d) 45
Explanations:

Option: c
Let two numbers be 4x and 5x
Their LCM = 180 and HCF = x
Now,
1st number * 2nd number = LCM*HCF
4x * 5x = 180*x
20x = 180
X=9
Smaller number = 4*9 = 36
Problems 8:

Two numbers are in the ratio 7:11. If 7 is added to each of the numbers,
the ratio become 2:3. The smaller number is
a) 39
b) 49
c) 66
d) 77
Explanations:

Option: B
Let the numbers be 7x and 11x
According to question,
7𝑥 + 7 2
=
11𝑥 + 7 3
Or, 22𝑥 + 14 = 21𝑥 + 21
X=7
Smaller number = 49
Problems 9:

The difference between two positive numbers is 10 and the ratio

between them is 5:3. Find the product of the two numbers.
a) 375
b) 175
c) 275
d) 125
Explanations:

Option: A
Let the two positive numbers be 5x and 3x respectively.
According to question,
5x-3x = 10
X=5
Then numbers are 25 and 15
Thus, their product = 25 * 15 = 375
Problems 10:
A dishonest milk man mixed 1 liter of water for every 3 liters of milk and
thus made up 36 liters of milk. If he now adds 15 liters of milk to
mixture, find the ratio of milk and water in the new mixture:
a) 12:5
b) 14:3
c) 7:2
d) 9:4
Explanations:

Option: B
Quantity of milk and water in the 36 liter mixture is 27 liter milk and 9
liter water
Now, 15 liters milk is added then milk becomes 42 liters
Now, ratio = 42:9 = 14:3
Problems 11:
If the ratio of the ages of Maya and Chhaya is 6:5 at present, and fifteen
years from now, the ratio will get changed to 9:8, then find Maya’s
present age.
a) 24 years
b) 30 years
c) 18 years
d) 33 years
Explanations:

Option: B
Let Maya’s and Chhaya’s present age is 6x and 5x respectively
And,
6𝑥 + 15 9
=
5𝑥 + 15 8
Or, 48𝑥 + 120 = 45𝑥 = 135
3𝑥 = 15 → 𝑥 = 5
Present age of Maya = 6𝑥 = 30
Problems 12:

A truck covers a distance of 550 metres in 1 minute where as a bus

covers a distance of 33 kms in 45 minute. The ratio of their speeds is :
a) 4:3
b) 3:5
c) 3:4
d) 50:3
Explanations:

Option: C
Speed of truck = 550 per minute.
33𝑘𝑚𝑠 33000
Speed of bus = = = 733.33𝑚/𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒
45 45
550
Ratio of their speeds = = 3: 4
733.33
Problems 13:
Total number of men, women and children working in a factory is 18.
They earn Rs. 4000 in a day. If the sum of the wages of all men, all
women and all children is in ration of 18:10:12 and if the wages of an
individual man, woman and child is in ration 6:5:3, then how much a
women earn in a day?
a) Rs.120
b) Rs.150
c) RS.250
d) RS.400
Explanations:

Option: C
18 10 12
Ratio of number of men, women and children : :
6 5 3
= 3: 2: 4
Total(Men + women + Children) = 18
3𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 4𝑥 = 18
𝑥=2
Hence, number of women = 2x = 2 * 2 =4
10
Share of all women = ∗ 4000 = 𝑅𝑠. 1000 18 + 10 + 12 = 40 =
40
250
Problems 14:

Reshma donates one-forth of her property to a charity organization

and divides the remaining property equally among her three children.
The part pf property each child gets is
a) Half
b) One-fourth
c) Two-thirds
d) None of these
Explanations:

Option : B
Let the total property of Reshma be X
She donates one-fourth of her property (i.e. X/4) to a charity
organization,
So, the remaining property = X-X/4 = 3X/4
Now she divides the remaining property equally among her three
children
3𝑋
4 𝑋
So, the part of property each child gets is = =
3 4
Hence, each child gets one-fourth of the total property.
Problems 15:

The monthly incomes of A and B are in the ratio 4:3. Each saves Rs. 600.
If their expenditures are in the ratio 3:2, then what is the monthly
income of A?
a) 1800
b) 2000
c) 2400
d) 3600
Explanations:
Option : C
Ratio of monthly income of A and B = 4/3
Ratio of expenditures of A and B = 3/2
Saving of A and B = Rs. 600each
Concept used: We’ll equate the ratio of expenditures on both sides.
Calculation:
Let the monthly income of A and B be 4x and 3x
4𝑥 − 600 3
=
3𝑥 − 600 2
On simplifying x = 600
Monthly income of A = 4x = 4*600 = Rs. 2400
Problems 16:

If 𝑎 + 𝑏 : 𝑏 + 𝑐 : 𝑐 + 𝑎 = 7: 4: 5, and 𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 16, then ሺ𝑎2 +

𝑏 2 𝑐 2 ሻ: 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐𝑎 is equal to :
a) 26:19
b) 23:15
c) 27:20
d) More than one of the above
Explanations:
Option : A
Given 𝑎 + 𝑏 : 𝑏 + 𝑐 : 𝑐 + 𝑎 = 7: 4: 5
Calculation: 𝑎 + 𝑏 : 𝑏 + 𝑐 : 𝑐 + 𝑎 = 7𝑥: 4𝑥: 5𝑥
2𝑎 + 2𝑏 + 2𝑐 = 16𝑥 𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 8𝑥
𝑠𝑜, 8𝑥 = 16 𝑥=2
𝑎 + 𝑏 = 14
𝑏+𝑐 =8
𝑐 + 𝑎 = 10
𝑆𝑜, 𝑎 = 8, 𝑏 = 6, 𝑐 = 2
Now, 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 𝑐 2 : 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐𝑎 = 82 + 62 + 22 : ሺ8 ∗ 6 + 6 ∗ 2 +
8 ∗ 2ሻ
Required answer is 26:19
Problems 17:

If 2𝑥 = 3𝑦 and 4𝑦 = 5𝑧. Then what is the value of 𝑥: 𝑧?

a) 3:4
b) 8:15
c) 15:8
d) 4:3
Explanations:

Option : C
2𝑥 = 3𝑦
𝑥 3
= 𝑥: 𝑦 = 3: 2
𝑦 2
4𝑦 = 5𝑧
𝑦 5
= 𝑦: 𝑧 = 5: 4
𝑧 4
𝑥: 𝑦: 𝑧 = 15: 10: 8
Problems 18:

A bag has ₹ 785 in the denomination of ₹ 2, ₹ 5 and ₹ 10 coins. The coins are in
the ratio of 6:9:10. How many coins of ₹5 are in the bag?
a) 60
b) 12
c) 45
d) 24
Explanations:
Option : C
₹785 in the denomination of ₹2, ₹5 and ₹10 coins.
The coins are in the ratio of 6:9:10
Calculation:
Let the number of coins of ₹2, ₹5 and ₹10 be 6x, 9x and 10x
respectively.
2 ∗ 6𝑥 + 5 ∗ 9𝑥 + 10 ∗ 10𝑥 = 785
157𝑥 = 785
𝑥=5
Number of coins of ₹5 9𝑥 = 9 ∗ 5 = 45
45 coins of ₹5 are in the bag
Problems 19:

A diamond weighing 35 grams cost Rs.12,250 is cut down into two pieces having
weights in the ratio of 5:2. If the price directly proportional to the square of the
weight then find the loss incurred.
a) Rs.5000
b) Rs.6000
c) Rs.5500
d) Rs.5700
Explanations:

Option : A new ratio is 5:2

The price of diamond before broken is Rs. 12250
Concept used: Using the concept simple ratio.
Calculation: Let the weight of each piece of diamond be 5x and 2x
Total weight of diamond = 5𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 7𝑥
Cost of the diamond = 7𝑥 2 = 49𝑥 2
Cost of first piece = 5𝑥 2 = 25𝑥 2
Cost of second piece = 2𝑥 2 = 4𝑥 2
Total cost of diamond after weight 25𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 2 = 29𝑥 2
Explanations:

New cost = 29𝑥 2

According to the question,
49𝑥 2 = 12250 𝑥 2 = 250
The loss in the price of diamond after broken = 49𝑥 2 − 29𝑥 2
The required loss = 20𝑥 2
250*20 = Rs. 5000
The loss in the price of diamond after broken is Rs.5000.
Problems 20:

The ratio of the present age of father to that of son is 7:2. After 10 years their
ages will be in the ratio of 9:4. The present ages of the father is
a) 35 years
b) 40 years
c) 30 years
d) 25 years
Explanations:

Let the common factor be K

So the present ages of father and son will be 7K and 2K
After 10 years, their ages will be 7K+10 and 2K+10 years respectively
7𝐾 + 10 9
=
2𝐾 + 10 4
K=5
Fathers present age = 7K = 35 years
Problems 21:

Find the mean proportional between 7 and 63

a) 35
b) 21
c) 27
d) 30
Explanations:

Option: B
In a:b:c, mean proportional = b
𝑎 𝑏
𝑎: 𝑏: 𝑐 → = → 𝑏 2 = 𝑎𝑐
𝑏 𝑐
𝑏 = 𝑎𝑐 = 7 ∗ 63 = 21
Problems 22:

What is 4th proportional in 9, 13 and 153?

a) 251
b) 181
c) 175
d) 221
Explanations:

Option: D
In a:b::c:d, 4th proportional is d.
𝑎 𝑐 𝑐 ∗ 𝑏 13 ∗ 153
𝑎: 𝑏 ∷ 𝑐: 𝑑 → = → 𝑑 = = = 221
𝑏 𝑑 𝑎 9
Problems 23:

In what ratio should the profit of Rs.8000 be divided if X starts a business

with an investment of Rs. 20000, Y invests Rs.7500 for 4 months and Z
invests Rs.15000 after 3 months from the start of the business.251

a) 16:2:3
b) 8:3:6
c) 16:2:9
d) 6:9:1
Explanations:

Option: C
Let the profit of X be P1, that of Y be P2 and of Z be P3.
P1:P2:P3 = 20000*12:7500*4:15000*9 = 240:30:135 = 80:10:45
= 16:2:9
Problems 24:

In an alloy, the ratio of copper and zinc is 5:2. If 1.250 kg of zinc is mixed in
17 kg 500 gm of alloy, then the ratio of copper and zinc will be = ?

a) 2:1
b) 2:3
c) 3:2
d) 1:2
Explanations:
Option: A
The ratio of copper and zinc is 5:2 i.e. 5x:2x
Quantity of initial mixture = 17.5𝐾𝑔
35 5
5𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 𝑥=
2 2
5 25
Quantity of Copper in initial mixture = ∗ 5 = 𝑘𝑔
2 2
5
Quantity of Zinc in initial mixture = ∗ 2 = 5𝑘𝑔
2
25
Now after adding 1.250kg of zinc = 5 + 1.250 = 6.250𝑘𝑔 = 𝑘𝑔
4
25 25
New Ratio of copper: zinc = : = 2: 1
2 4