GRADE VI
SOLVING WORD PROBLEMS USING DIRECT PROPORTION
Objective: Solve word problems using direct proportion.
REVIEW
Going Up the Ladder
Find the missing term in each proportion as you go up the ladder.
END
x 5
12 10
4:9 = 8:x
x 20
5 25
5 15
9 x
3:10=9:x
x:20 = 4:5
4:x = 20:15
1
STUDY AND LEARN
There are problems involving proportion where two quantities in a proportion are directly
related. A proportion is direct, if an increase in one quantity produces the same rate of
increase in the other quantity and vice versa.
Example 1:
Lola Ester uses 3 tablespoons of baking powder to make 16 pancakes. How many
tablespoons of baking powder does she need to make 48 pancakes?
This is a direct proportion. An increase in the amount of baking powder produces a
corresponding increase in the number of pancakes and vice-versa.
Let’s look at the table.
No. of tablespoons of baking powder 3 N
No. of pancakes 16 48
The proportion is:
3 N
3:16 = N:48 or
16 48
16N = 144
144
N=
16
N = 9 tablespoons of baking powder
Check: extremes 16 x 9 = 144 3 x 48 = 144
3:16 = 9:48 The product of the means is equal to the
product of the extremes
means
2
Example 2:
A store has t-shirts for sale at “2 for Php390.” At this rate, how much will
6 t-shirts cost?
2 6
Proportion: 2 : 380 = 6 : N or =
380 N
2N = 380 x 6
2280
N= = 1 140
2
The 6 t -shirts cost Php 1140
N = Php 1140 – cost of 6 t-shirts
Example 3:
The ratio of two numbers is 3:5. If the larger number is 30, what is the smaller
number?
Smaller number 3 N
Bigger number 5 30
Proportion: 3: 5 = N:30
5N = 90
90
N=
5
N = 18 smaller number
TRY THESE
Write the proportion and solve for the answer.
1. If 12 ball pens are bought for Php75, how much will you pay for 24 ball pens at the
same rate?
Proportion:
2. The ratio of men to women in a certain college is 7 to 5. How many women are there
if there are 350 men?
Proportion:
3
3. A car travels 275 kilometers in 5 hours. How far will it travel in 9 hours at the same
speed?
Proportion:
4. The ratio of math books to science books is 8:5. How many science books are there if
there are 152 math books?
Proportion:
5. Five men can produce 20 armchairs in one day. How many armchairs can be made
by 7 men in a day?
Proportion:
WRAP UP
A proportion is direct if as one quantity increases, the other
quantity also increases or if one quantity decreases, the other
quantity also decreases by the same ratio.
Two quantities, A and B, are in direct proportion if by
whatever factor A changes, and B changes by the same factor.
To solve a problem, transform the problem into a
proportion, then find the missing term.
ON YOUR OWN
Solve each problem.
4
1) In a zoo, there are 2 lions for every 5 monkeys. How many lions are there if the zoo
has 45 monkeys?
2) Three bananas cost Php5.00. How many bananas can be bought with Php20.00?
3) A typist can finish a 300-word article in about 6 minutes. At the same rate, how long
will it take her to type a 4500-word report?
4) The ratio of Pete’s money to George’s is 3:4. If George has Php360, how much does
Pete have?
5) The ratio of two numbers is 4:7. If the smaller number is 32, find the bigger number.
