Unit (13)

RATIO AND PROPORTION

13.1 Ratio
A ratio is one way of comparing two similar quantities. If a and b are numbers
a
and b  0, the ratio of a to b is the number .
b
Properties of a ratio
Let a and b be two numbers and b  0.
a ma
1. = where m  0
b mb
a a /m
2. = where , m  0
b b/m
x a
3. If y = when y  0 and b  0 then x = ak and y = bk where k is a
b
constant.
x 3
Note: y
=  x  3 and y  4
4
x 3
y
=  x = 3k and y = 4k
4

Exercise 13.1

1. Express the ratio x : y in its simplest form

(a) x = 8, y = 6 (b) x = 15 , y = 12 (c) x = 8a, y = 20a (a  0)
(d) x = 10, y = 16 (e) x = 32b, y = 24 b ( b  0)
2. Express each ratio as a percent
2 3 8 30 3
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
5 10 25 50 4

98
3. A 21 - foot rope is to be cut so that the lengths of the two pieces are in
the ratio 2:5. Find the lengths of the pieces.
4. Determine the angles of a triangle so that their degree measures are in
the ratio 3 : 5 : 7.
5. If x : y = 5 : 3, find the value of 3x + 4y : 4x + 3y.
6. A map is drawn using a scale of 10 cm to 1 km. Express the scale in
the form of 1 : n.
7. The perimeter of a triangle is 54 cm and the lengths of the sides are in
the ratio 2 : 3 : 4. Find the length of each side.
8. If x : y = 3 : 4, find the value of 7x - 4y : 3x + y.
9. Find two numbers which are in the ratio 5 : 3 and whose difference is
34.
10. What is the ratio of x to y if 10x + 3y : 5x + 2y = 9 : 5.
11. The ratio of the measure of two supplementary angles is 4 : 5 . Find
the measure of each angle.
12. The ratio of the measure of two complementary angles is 1 : 4 . Find
the measure of each angle.

13.2 Proportion
A proportion is an equation whose members are ratios (or) a proportion is the
statement of the equality of two ratios.

PROPERTIES OF PROPORTION
a c
1. If = then ad = bc.
b d

2. Invertendo

a c b d
If = then =
b d a c

99
3. Alternendo
a c d c
If = then =
b d b a
4. Componendo
a c ab cd
If = then =
b d b d
a c a c
If = then =
b d ba dc
5. Dividendo
a c a b cd
If = then =
b d b d
a c a c
If = then =
b d ba dc
6. Componendo and Dividendo
a c ab cd
If = then =
b d ab cd
7. Equal ratios
a c e
If   .... then
b d f
a  c  e  ... a c e
=   ....
b  d  f  ... b d f

Exercise 13.2

1. If a : b = c : d = e : f , show that
a3 + c3 + e3 : b3 + d3 + f3 = ace : bdf

2. If x : a = y : b = z : c, show that
x3 y3 z3 ( x  y  z )3 x 3 y 3 z3 ( x  y  z )3
(a) + + = 3 (b) + + =
a3 b3 c 3 (a  b  c )3 a 2 b2 c 2 ( a  b  c )2

100
 L m n
3. If x  y = y  z = . Prove that l + m + n = 0
zx

a b c 1
4. If = = , show that each of these ratios is equal to or -1.
bc c a ab 2

5. If 7x - 5y : 7x + 5y = 11 : 31, find the value of 5x2 - 4y2 : 5x2 + 4y2.

6. If (a + 3b + 2c + 6d) (a - 3b - 2c + 6d) = (a – 3b + 2c - 6d )(a + 3b - 2c - 6d),

prove that a : b = c : d.
x 2 3 x3 3
7. (a) Solve  (b) =
x 2 2 x 3 2

2a  7c  3e
8. If a : b = c : d = e : f prove that each of the ratios is equal to .
2b  7d  3f

yz zx xy

9. If   show that each of the ratio is equal to
ay  bz az  bx ax  by
2
given that x+y+z 0.
ab

x y z x  y  z
xyz a b c
10. If 2  2
 2 . Show that  .
2 2 2
a b c a b c abc

a  bx b  cx c  ax 1 x
11. If   show that each ratio is equal to .
b  cy c  ay a  by 1 y
(a+b+c 0)

5a2  7b2 40
12. If 2 2 =
1 , find a : b.
3a  b 47

101
8. A The symbol ‘’ is used for “the area of”
(a) In the figure (ABC): (ADE) = 5 : 3 and
(ADE) is 30 cm2. Using the Dividendo
property, find (BCED).
D E
(b) In the same figure (ADE) : (BCED) = 3:2
B C and (BCED)=60cm2. Using the Componendo
property, find (ABC).
Continued Proportion
a b c
  = --- where each denominator  0 is called a continued
b c d
proportion.

Mean Proportional
If a, b and c are in continued proportion, b is called the mean propor-
tional between a and c .
a b
a, b, c are in continued proportion :  .
b c
b2 = ac
b =  ac

Exercise 13.3
1. Find the mean proportional between 8 and 12.
2. Find the mean proportional between each pair of number given below.
(a) 4 and 9 (b) 8 and 27
3. If a : b = b : c show that a2 + b2 : ab + bc = ab + bc : b2 + c2
4. If a, b and c are in coutinued proportion,
1 1
4 4 1 1
a b 4

4
Show that 1 1
 a b
b 4 c 4

102
13.3 Proportions in Geometry

Three parallel lines and two transversals

If three parallel lines intersect two transversals, then the lines divide the
transversals proportionally.

l
a c
m
a c
b d If l // m // n then =
b d
n

Basic Proportionality in a triangle

If a line intersecting the interior of a triangle is parallel to one side, then
the line divides the other two sides proportionally.
A

D E In triangle ABC, If DE // BC ,
AD AE
then  .
DB EC
B C

AD AE AD AE
Note : In triangle ABC, if DE // BC , then (i)  (ii) 
DB EC AB AC
DB EC
and (iii) 
AB AC

Converse of the Statement

If a line divides two sides of a triangle proportionally, then the line is parallel
to the third side.

103
 A

D E AD AE
In triangle ABC , if 
DB EC
then DE // BC
B C

AD AE DB EC
Note: If  (or)  , then DE // BC.
AB AC AB AC

Exercise 13.4
1. Find x in each figure.

5 4 24 x 5

3 x 7

6
4

4
x

16 x 3

104
2. Find x and y.
5 6

5 x

3 y

R
3. Find x.

x+3 3x-6

S T
2x 2x+7
P Q
Show that UV // RT.
T
4.
18

V
4

R 7 U S
9
5. A Given : OE // CB and OF // CD
Prove : EF // BD.

F
E
D
B O

105