3.

1 Ratios and Proportions

1. Solve problems involving ratios.

2. Solve for a missing number in a proportion.
3. Solve proportion problems.
4. Use proportions to solve for missing lengths in figures
that are similar.

You may use calculators in this chapter!!

Ratio: A comparison of two quantities
using a quotient (fraction).

The word to separates the numerator and

denominator quantities.

12
The ratio of 12 to 17 translates to .
17

Numerator Denominator

Unit ratio: A ratio with a denominator of 1.

Ratios
A bin at a hardware store contains 120 washers
and 85 bolts. Write the ratio of washers to bolts in
simplest form.
washers 120 24
  
The ratio of washers to bolts bolts 85 17

Express the ratio as a unit ratio. Interpret the answer.

24 1.41

17 1

There are 1.41 washers for every bolt.

Ratios
The price of a 10.5 ounce can of soup is $1.68. Write
the unit ratio that expresses the price to weight.

price 1.68 .16

The ratio of price to weight   
weight 10.5 1

Interpret the answer.

The soup costs $.16 per ounce.

Ratios
One molecule of glucose contains 6 carbon atoms, 12
hydrogen atoms, and 6 oxygen atoms. What is the
ratio of hydrogen atoms to the total number of atoms
in the molecule?

The ratio of hydrogen atoms to total atoms

hydrogen atoms 12 1
 
total atoms 24 2
Proportions

Proportion: two ratios set equal.

4  6  24 3  8  24
6 3

8 4

Cross-products of proportions are always equal!

Only works if there is an equal (=) sign!

6 3
 No!
8 4
Solving Proportions

1. Calculate the cross products.

2. Set the cross products equal to each other.
3. Solve the equation.

3  8  24 5  x  5x
3 x

5 8

24  5x
5 5
24
x
5
Solving Proportions 1. Calculate the cross products.
2. Set the cross products equal.
3. Solve the equation.

x  12  12 x 20  18  360
12 18

20 x

12 x  360
12 12

x  30
Solving Proportions 1. Calculate the cross products.
2. Set the cross products equal.
3. Solve the equation.

2 3
m  4 1  7 2   9  23  69
5        
2 2  2  3   2  31  2
7
5  3
1 m
4
2
Multiply by reciprocal. Or clear the fraction.
1 1 2  69 
5  22  569 69   
10 m   10 
 mm    5  2
21 55  22 2 
1

345 1
m  86
4 4
Solving Proportions 1. Calculate the cross products.
2. Set the cross products equal.
3. Solve the equation.
3x  5 42

x5 7

6 3
3x  5  42
3x  15  42
 15  15
3x  27
3 3

x9
Solving Proportions
Gary notices that his water bill was $24.80 for 600
cubic feet of water. At that rate, what would the
charges be for 940 cubic feet of water?
23312 600 x
dollars
cubic feet 24.80 x

600 940

23312  600 x
600 600

x  $38.85
Solving Proportions
Chevrolet estimates that its 2012 Tahoe will travel
520 miles on one tank of gas. If the tank of the
Tahoe holds 26 gallons, how far can a driver expect
to travel on 20 gallons?

miles 10400 26 x
gallon 520 x

26 20

10400  26 x
26 26

x  400 miles
Congruent angles: Angles that have the same measure.
The symbol for congruent is  .

Similar figures: Figures with congruent angles and

proportional side lengths.
The two figures are similar. Find the missing length.
10 x 40
5 large 10 8
10 x 
8 small 5 x

10 x  40
6 10 10

x4
 Similar Figures
The two figures are similar. Find the missing lengths.
Round your answer to the nearest hundredth.
134.4 6.5x
x
12.8 x

12.8 km 6.5 10.5
134.4  6.5x
y large 6.5 6.5
small x  20.68 km
10.5 km
58.88 6.5y
6.5 km 6.5 km
12.8 y

4.6 km 6.5 4.6
58.88  6.5y
6.5 6.5
y  9.06 km