3.

5 Writing Ratios &

Proportion

mi/gal ??
A RATIO is a quotient
that compare 2 quantities.
3 3 to 4 3:4
4
A Proportion is an equation
of two equal ratios.
50miles 25miles
=
4 gallons 2 gallons
 50miles 25miles
=
4 gallons 2 gallons
The numerators have the
same units (miles).
The denominators have
the same units (gallons).
 all
3 4 5 reduce
6 = =
8 10 to 1/2

Proportion is true if
fractions are equal when in
lowest terms.
Each of the numbers in
the proportion is a term.
They are numbered as
follows.
first (a) (c)third
=
Second (b) (d ) forth
The 1 and 4 terms are
st h

the Extremes. The 2 and

nd

3 terms are the Means.

rd

2 8
=
3 12
The product of the means
equals the product of the
extremes.
Cross products are equal.
2 8 2 • 12 = 3 • 8
=
3 12 24 = 24
 To Solve Proportions
9 3
Find n =
6 n

9 n = (3) (6)
9 n = 18
n=2
A car travels 60 mi / hr.
How far can it travel in
7 hrs.?

60 mi = n mi
60 mi = n mi
1 hr 7 hrs.
( 60 ) ( 7 ) = 1 n
420 mi. = n
Capture Recapture Method
Allows biologists to find
the number of animals or
fish in an area by estimating.
In a lake,
researchers caught, marked
and released 213 bass. Later,
they took a sample of 104 bass
13 were marked. Estimate
the total number of bass.
Marked sample = Marked in lake
Total in sample Total in lake

13 213
=
104 x
 13 213
=
104 x
13 x = ( 213) (104)
13 x = 22,152
x = 1704
Approx. 1704
bass in the lake
 thought for the day
The desire
to succeed
means nothing QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see th

without the
will to prepare!