Basic concept of Ratio and Proportion
Ratio :
The comparison or simplified form of two quantities of the same kind is referred
to as a ratio. This relation gives us how many times one quantity is equal to the
other quantity.
In simple words, the ratio is the number that can be used to express one
quantity as a fraction of the other ones.
Hence, the ratio can be represented in three different forms, such as: a to b or
𝑎
a : b or 𝑏 .
Here a and b could be any two quantities. Where 'a' is called the 'antecedent'
and 'b' is called the 'consequent'.
Example 1 - Ratio 4 : 9 represents 4/9 with antecedent = 4, consequent = 9
If we multiply and divide each term of the ratio by the same number
(non-zero), it doesn’t affect the ratio.
4 : 9 = 8 : 18 = 12 : 27
Note :
● The ratio should exist between the quantities of the same kind.
● While comparing two things, the units should be similar.
● There should be significant order of terms.
● The comparison of two ratios can be performed, if the ratios are
equivalent like the fractions.
Finding equivalent ratio :
(i) Type 1 – To find out the ratio when equivalent equation is
given
Example 2 : Find a : b : c if 4a = 6b = 10c.
Solution:
Let 4a = 6b = 10c = k
a = k/4 ; b = k/6 ; c = k/10
L.C.M. of 4, 6, 10 is 60.
𝑘
a= 4
× 60 = 15 k
𝑘
b= 6
× 60 = 10 k
𝑘
c= 10
× 60 = 6 k
a : b : c = 15k : 10k : 6k
⇒ a : b : c = 15 : 10 : 6
∴ The correct answer is 15: 10: 6.
(ii) Type 2 - To find out equivalent ratio when two ratios are
given
Example 3 : If a : b = 4 : 3 and b : c is 4 : 5 then find out a : b : c ?
Solution:
If a : b = x : y and b : c = m : n
Then, a : b : c = mx : my : ny
Given, a : b = 4 : 3 and b : c = 4 : 5
⇒ a : b : c = 16 : 12 : 15
Example 4 : The ratio between A and B is 3 : 5 and ratio between B and C is
7 : 9. Find the ratio between C and A.
Solution:
To equate B's share, we have to multiply (A : B) by 7 and (B : C) by 5
A : B = (3 : 5) × 7 = 21 : 35
B : C = (7 : 9) × 5 = 35 : 45
Now, A : B : C = 21 : 35 : 45
And, C : A = 45 : 21
⇒ 15 : 7
∴ The ratio between C and A is 15 : 7
Example 5 : If a : b = 2 : 5, b : c = 4 : 7 and c : d = 9 : 14, then what is a : b : c
: d?
Solution:
a : b = (2 : 5) × 4 = 8 : 20
b : c = (4 : 7) × 5 = 20 : 35
a : b : c = (8 : 20 : 35) × 9 = 72 : 180 : 315
c : d = (9 : 14) × 35 = 315 : 490
∴ The value of a : b : c : d is 72 : 180 : 315 : 490
Example 6 : What is the reciprocal ratio of 4 : 5 : 8?
Solution:
Ratio of three numbers is a : b : c,
then their reciprocal ratio is:
(1/a) × (LCM of a, b and c) : (1/b) × (LCM of a, b and c) : (1/c) × (LCM of a, b and
c)
Calculation:
Reciprocal of 4 : 5 : 8
⇒ (1/4) : (1/5) : (1/8)
Multiplying with LCM of 4, 5 and 8 i.e. 40.
⇒ (1/4) × 40 : (1/5) × 40 : (1/8) × 40
⇒ 10 : 8 : 5
∴ The reciprocal ratio of 4 : 5 : 8 is 10 : 8 : 5.
3𝑎 + 5 𝑏
Example 7 : If 3𝑎 − 5𝑏
= 5, then a : b is equal to?
Solution:
3𝑎 + 5 𝑏
Given: 3𝑎 − 5𝑏
=5
Cross-multiply to solve for a and b:
⇒ 3a + 5b = 5(3a−5b)
⇒ 3a + 5b = 15a − 25b
Bring like terms together:
⇒ 5b + 25b = 15a − 3a
⇒ 30b = 12a
⇒ Divide both sides by 6:
⇒ 5b = 2a
⇒ a/b = 5/2
∴ The correct answer is = 5 : 2.
Example 8 : Two numbers are in the ratio 7 ∶ 8. If 3 is added to each of
them, their ratio becomes 8 ∶ 9. The numbers are ?
Solution:
Since the increase keeps the ratios in integers, it's clear that the step from 7:8 to
8:9 involves adding a constant to each number. This allows us to set up two
equations and solve them simultaneously.
Let's denote the numbers as 7x and 8x (since they are in the ratio 7:8).
⇒ From the given conditions, we can establish the following equations: 7x + 3 /
8x + 3 = 8 / 9
⇒ Solving this equation, we get x = 3
⇒ Substituting x in 7x and 8x, we get:
First number = 7x = 7 * 3 = 21
Second number = 8x = 8 * 3 = 24
Example 9: If A’s income is 4/3 of B’s income. C’s income is 3/2 of B’s
income. What is the ratio of the incomes of A and C?
Solution:
Let the income of B = 6 (LCM of denominators 3 and 2)
So, A’s income = 6 × (4/3) = 8
And C’s income = 6 × (3/2) = 9
Hence, Required ratio = 8 : 9
Example 10 - If the incomes of A and B are in the ratio 5 : 7 and their
expenditures are in the ratio 2 : 3, determine the income of B if they both
save an equal amount of Rs. 2200.
Solution:
Suppose the income of A is 5x and that of B is 7x.
So, (5x - 2200)/(7x - 2200) = 2/3
⇒ 15x - 6600 = 14x - 4400 ⇒ x = 2200
Hence, Income of B = 7x = Rs. 15400
∴ The correct answer is 15400.
Example 11 : The ratio of present ages of Ramesh and Suresh is 7 : 13. After
9 years the ratio becomes 23 : 35. Find the ratio of ages of Ramesh and
Suresh, 6 years before now.
Solution:
Let the present age of Ramesh and Suresh be x and y respectively
x : y = 7 : 13
⇒ 13x = 7y
⇒ 13x − 7y = 0 ----(1)
Again, ratio after 9 years,
(x + 9)/(y + 9) = 23 / 35
⇒ 35x + (35 × 9) = 23y + (23 × 9)
⇒ 35x − 23y = − 108 ----(2)
Now from elimination method to solve the linear equation with 2 variables
⇒ 13x − 7y = 0 (× 35)
⇒ 35x − 23y = −108 (× 13)
We get,
455x − 299y = −1404 ----(3)
455x − 245y = 0 ----(4)
Subtract equation (3) and equation (4)
⇒ − 54y = − 1404
⇒ y = 26 years
Putting ( y = 26 ) in equ. (1)
We get,
⇒ 13x = 26 × 7
⇒ x = 14 years
Now, ratio of x and y before 6 years
⇒ (x − 6) : (y − 6) = (14 − 6) : (26 − 6)
⇒ 8 : 20
Or, x : y = 2 : 5
∴ Ratio of ages of Ramesh and Suresh, before 6 years ago was 2 : 5.
∴ The correct answer is 2 : 5
Example 12 : An employee reduces the number of his employees in the ratio
of 9 : 8 and increases their wages in the ratio 11 : 15. State whether his bill
of total wages increases or decreases, and in what ratio.
Solution:
Total Bill = Wage per person × Number of Employees
Ratio of change in bill
⇒ 9 × 11 : 8 × 15
⇒ 99 : 120
∴ 33 : 40
The ratio shows that there is an increase in the bill.
Example 14 : The ratio of two numbers A and B is 6 ∶ 7. The ratio of B and C
is 2 ∶ 3. The difference between C and A is 81. Find the ratio of B and 144.
A B C
6 × 2 = 12 7 × 2 = 14
2 × 7 = 14 3 × 7 = 21
12 14 21
Solution:
Now, A ∶ B ∶ C = 12 ∶ 14 ∶ 21
Let A, B and C be 12x, 14x and 21x respectively.
The difference between C and A is 81.
⇒ C – A = 81
⇒ 21 x – 12 x = 81
⇒ 9x = 81
⇒x=9
B = 14x
B = 14 × 9 = 126
Ratio of B and 144 = 126 ∶ 144 = 7 ∶ 8
∴ The ratio of B and 144 is 7 ∶ 8.
Example 15 : A papaya is cut into two pieces in the ratio of 3 : 4 by weight.
The bigger of the two is further cut in the ratio of 4 : 5 by weight. Find the
ratio of each of the three pieces.
Solution:
The sum of first weight of papaya = (3 + 4) = 7
The sum of bigger of the two papaya = (4 + 5) = 9
LCM of 7 and 9 is 63
The first part of the papaya weight be = (3/7 × 63) = 27
And, (4/7 × 63) = 36
The bigger part of two of the papaya = 36
The ratio of bigger part of the papaya = (4/9 × 36) = 16
And, (5/9 × 36) = 20
The ratio of each of the three pieces 27 : 16 : 20
Proportion :
Proportion is an equation that defines that the two given ratios are equivalent
to each other. In other words, the proportion states the equality of the two
fractions or the ratios.
Example 16 : The time taken by train to cover 100 km per hour is equal to
the time taken by it to cover the distance of 500 km for 5 hours.
Such as 100km/hr = 500 km/ 5hrs.
Note :
Ratio and proportions are said to be faces of the same coin. When two
ratios are equal in value, then they are said to be in proportion. In simple
words, it compares two ratios. Proportions are denoted by the symbol ‘::’
or ‘=’.
Now, let us assume that, in proportion, the two ratios are a:b & c:d.
a/b = c/d or a : b :: c : d
The two terms ‘b’ and ‘c’ are called ‘means or mean term,’ whereas the
terms ‘a’ and ‘d’ are known as ‘extremes or extreme terms.’
Product of mean = Product of extremes
Thus, a : b :: c : d ↔ (b × c) = (a × b)
Example 17 : Let us consider one more example of a number of students in a
classroom. Our first ratio of the number of girls to boys is 3:5 and that of
the other is 4:8, then the proportion can be written as?
Solution:
3 : 5 :: 4 : 8 or 3/5 = 4/8
Here, 3 & 8 are the extremes,
while 5 & 4 are the means.
Example 18 : State whether the given proportion is true or false- 12 : 18 =
28 : 56
Solution: As we know that -
Product of mean = Product of extremes
12 × 56 = 18 × 28
⇒ 672 = 504
⇒ These are not equal.
Example 19 : Find the missing number in the box in the following proportion
K : 8 :: 12 : 32.
Solution:
As we know that -
Product of mean = Product of extremes
K × 32 = 8 × 12 ⇒ K = 96/32 = 3
The value of P is 3.
Example 20 : What should be subtracted from each number 41, 55, 86 and
118 so that the results are in proportion?
Solution:
Let x be subtracted from each numbers 41, 55, 86 and 118 and results are in
proportion, can be written as
(41 – x) ∶ (55 – x) ∶∶ (86 – x) ∶ (118 – x)
⇒ (41 – x)/(55 – x) = (86 – x)/(118 – x)
⇒ (41 – x) (118 – x) = (86 – x) (55 – x)
⇒ 41 × 118 – 159x + x2 = 55 × 86 – 141x + x2
⇒ (159 – 141)x = 41 × 118 – 55 × 86 = 108
⇒ 18x = 108 ⇒ x = 6
∴ When 6 should be subtracted from each term then the result is in
proportion.
Example 21 : The least number to be added to each of the numbers 16, 7, 79
and 43, so that the resulting numbers are in proportion is?
Solution:
Let the least number to be added be x.
Then the numbers become 16 + x, 7 + x, 79 + x, and 43 + x.
For these numbers to be in proportion:
(16 + x) / (7 + x) = (79 + x) / (43 + x)
cross-multiplying:
(16 + x)(43 + x) = (7 + x)(79 + x)
Expanding both sides:
16 × 43 + 16x + 43x + x2 = 7 × 79 + 7x + 79x + x2
⇒ 688 + 59x + x2 = 553 + 86x + x2
Subtracting x2 from both sides:
⇒ 688 + 59x = 553 + 86x
Rearranging the terms:
⇒ 688 – 553 = 86x − 59x
⇒ 135 = 27x
Dividing both sides by 27:
⇒x=5
∴ The correct answer is 5.
Difference between Ratio and Proportion :
Ratio Proportion
The ratio is used to compare the size The proportion is used to express the
of two things with the same unit. relation of two ratios
It is expressed using a colon (:), slash It is expressed using the double
(/) colon (::) or equal to the symbol (=)
It is an expression It is an equation
Keyword to identify ratio in a Keyword to identify proportion in a
problem is “to every” problem is “out of ”