Proportion and Variance

Proportion
Proportions is where two ratios are compared and equated.
Proportion is represented by the symbol ‘= ‘or ‘:: ‘
If the ratio a : b is equal to the ratio c : d, then a, b, c, d are said to be in
proportion.
Using symbols we write as a : b = c : d or a : b :: c : d
When 4 terms are in proportion, then the product of the two extremes (i.e.
the first and the fourth value) should be equal to the product of two middle
or mean values (i.e. the second and the third value)
axd=bxc
 Fourth, Third and Mean Proportional

If a : b = c : d, then:
•d is called the fourth proportional to a, b, c.

•c is called the third proportion to a and b.

•Mean proportional between a and b is √(ab).

1) Are the ratios 4:5 and 8:10 said to be in proportion?

2) Are the two ratios 8:10 and 7:10 in proportion?

3) a:b =4:1,then √(a/b)+ √(b/a) is :

a) 1 b) 4/5 c) 5/4  d) None
1) Are the ratios 4:5 and 8:10 said to be in proportion?
4:5= 4/5 = 0.8 and 8: 10= 8/10= 0.8
Since both the ratios are equal, they are said to be in
proportion.
2) Are the two ratios 8:10 and 7:10 in proportion?
8:10= 8/10= 0.8 and 7:10= 7/10= 0.7
Since both the ratios are not equal, they are not in proportion.
3) a:b =4:1,then √(a/b)+ √(b/a) is :
a) 1 b) 4/5 c) 5/4  d) None
√(a/b)+ √(b/a)= √(4/1) + √(1/4) = 2 + ½ = 5/2
4) If 7:13::301:x then the value of ‘x’ is:
a) 493 b) 537 c) 559 d) 587

5) If 2 : 9 :: x : 18, then find the value of x

a) 2 b) 3 c) 4 d) 6

6) The first three terms of a proportion are 3, 9 and 12. The

fourth term is?
a) 4 b) 6 c) 18 d) 36
4) If 7:13::301:x then the value of ‘x’ is:
a) 493 b) 537 c) 559 d) 587
7:13::301:x  7/13 = 301/x  x = 301 x 13/7 = 559
5) If 2 : 9 :: x : 18, then find the value of x
a) 2 b) 3 c) 4 d) 6
2:9::x:182/9=x/18x=4
6) The first three terms of a proportion are 3, 9 and 12. The
fourth term is?
a) 4 b) 6 c) 18 d) 36
3:9::12:x  3x=9x12  x = 36
7) The mean proportional between 4 and 9 is?
a) 9 b) 3 c) 6 d) 4

8) The third proportional to 1 and 2 is?

a) 2 b) 3 c) 4 d) 1

9) The fourth proportional to 12, 14 and 18 is?

a) 21 b) 20 c) 22 d) 28/3
7) The mean proportional between 4 and 9 is?
a) 9 b) 3 c) 6 d) 4
Mean proportional = √(4x9) = 2x3 = 6
8) The third proportional to 1 and 2 is?
a) 2 b) 3 c) 4 d) 1
1:2::2:x  Third proportional = x = 4
9) The fourth proportional to 12, 14 and 18 is?
a) 21 b) 20 c) 22 d) 28/3
12:14::18:x 12x = 14 x 18  x = 21
 Variance
Types of Variance:

Direct Variance or Direct Proportion

Indirect Variance or Indirect Proportion

 Direct Variance or Direct Proportion
Two quantities a and b are said to be in direct proportion if they
increase or decrease together. In other words, the ratio of their
corresponding values remains constant.
The symbol used to represent the direct proportion is “∝”.
a is directly proportional to b
a∝b
  Example: Rashmi has a road map with a scale of 1cm representing
18 km. She drives on a road for 72 km. What would be her distance
covered in the map ?
Scale Value Distance
1 cm 18 km 1/18 = y/72  y = 4
y cm 72 km
 Indirect Variance or Indirect Proportion
The value is said to inversely proportional when one value
increases, and the other decreases. 
‘a is inversely proportional to b is written as
a ∝ 1/b
Example: 4 people can paint a fence in 3 hours. How long will it
take 6 people to paint it?
People Hour
4 3 4x3=6xyy=2
6 y
1) You know that to make 20 pancakes you have to use 2 eggs.
How many eggs are needed to make 100 pancakes?
a) 10 b) 20 c) 1/10 d) 25

2) A loaded truck travels 14 km in 25 minutes. If the speed

remains the same, how far can it travel in 5 hours?
a) 178 b) 168 c) 148 d) 128
1) You know that to make 20 pancakes you have to use 2 eggs.
How many eggs are needed to make 100 pancakes?
a) 10 b) 20 c) 1/10 d) 25
PancakesEggs
20 2 20 / 2 = 100 / y  y = 10
100 y
2) A loaded truck travels 14 km in 25 minutes. If the speed
remains the same, how far can it travel in 5 hours?
a) 178 b) 168 c) 148 d) 128
Distance Time
14 km 25 Min 14/25 = y/300  y = 168
y km 300 Min (5 hrs)
3) If 35 men can build a wall in 8 days, in how many days can 20
men build the same wall?
a) 16 days b) 14 days c) 24 days d) 10 days

4) 3 pumps, working 8 hours a day, can empty a tank in 2 days.

How many hours a day must 4 pumps work to empty the tank
in 1 day?
a) 9 b) 10 c) 11 d) 12
3) If 35 men can build a wall in 8 days, in how many days can 20
men build the same wall?
a) 16 days b) 14 days c) 24 days d) 10 days
Men Days
35 8 35 x 8 = 20 x y  y = 14
20 y
4) 3 pumps, working 8 hours a day, can empty a tank in 2 days.
How many hours a day must 4 pumps work to empty the tank
in 1 day?
a) 9 b) 10 c) 11 d) 12
Pumps hour Days
3 8 2 3 x 8 x 2 = 4 x y x1 y = 12
4 y 1
5) 39 persons can repair a road in 12 days, working 5 hours a
day. In how many days will 30 persons, working 6 hours a day,
complete the work?
a) 10 b) 13 c) 14 d) 15

6) 4 mat-weavers can weave 4 mats in 4 days. At the same rate,

how many mats would be woven by 8 mat-weavers in 8 days?
a) 4 b) 8 c) 12 d) 16
5) 39 persons can repair a road in 12 days, working 5 hours a day. In
how many days will 30 persons, working 6 hours a day, complete
the work?
a) 10 b) 13 c) 14 d) 15
Person Days Hours
39 12 5 39 x 12 x 5 = 30 x y x 6  y = 13
30 y 6
6) 4 mat-weavers can weave 4 mats in 4 days. At the same rate, how
many mats would be woven by 8 mat-weavers in 8 days?
a) 4 b) 8 c) 12 d) 16
Weavers Mats Days
4 4 4 4 x 4/4 = 8 x 8/y  y =16
8 y 8