Topic: Ratio

1. What Is a Ratio?

A ratio compares two or more quantities of the same kind by division.

It shows how many times one quantity is compared to another.

Notation:
A ratio can be written in three ways:

 Using a colon → 3 : 2
 Using the word “to” → 3 to 2
 As a fraction → 3/2

All mean the same thing.

2. Example of a Ratio

If a class has 12 boys and 8 girls,

the ratio of boys to girls is:
→ 12 : 8

This can be simplified by dividing both terms by their highest common factor (HCF).

HCF of 12 and 8 is 4.
So,
12 ÷ 4 : 8 ÷ 4 = 3 : 2

✅ Simplified ratio = 3 : 2

That means for every 3 boys, there are 2 girls.

3. Simplifying Ratios

To simplify a ratio:

1. Express both quantities in the same units (if needed).

2. Divide both sides by their HCF.

Example:
Convert 500 m : 2 km
👉 2 km = 2000 m
So ratio = 500 : 2000
Divide by 500 → 1 : 4

✅ Simplified ratio = 1 : 4

4. Equivalent Ratios

Just like equivalent fractions, ratios can be scaled up or down by multiplying or dividing both
sides by the same number.

Example:
1:3=2:6=3:9

Each of these ratios shows the same relationship.

5. Ratio in Simplifying Quantities

You can use ratios to simplify parts of a group.

Example:
In a bag of candies, red : blue : yellow = 2 : 3 : 5
If there are 100 candies total,
Sum of parts = 2 + 3 + 5 = 10 parts
Each part = 100 ÷ 10 = 10 candies
So:

 Red = 2 × 10 = 20 candies
 Blue = 3 × 10 = 30 candies
 Yellow = 5 × 10 = 50 candies
✅ Always find total parts, then value per part.

6. Sharing in a Given Ratio

Sometimes you need to divide an amount in a given ratio.

Example:
Divide $60 in the ratio 2 : 3

Step 1: Total parts = 2 + 3 = 5

Step 2: Each part = $60 ÷ 5 = $12
Step 3:

 First share = 2 × 12 = $24

 Second share = 3 × 12 = $36

✅ Final answer: $24 and $36

7. Applications of Ratio

Ratios are used in real life for:

 Mixing ingredients (e.g., 1 part syrup : 4 parts water)

 Maps and scale drawings (e.g., 1 cm : 5 km)
 Speeds and densities (e.g., 60 km : 1 hour)
 Comparing quantities (e.g., student : teacher ratio = 20 : 1)

8. Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Forgetting to use the same units

❌ Writing ratios in the wrong order
❌ Not simplifying the ratio fully
❌ Adding ratios directly (can’t do that!)

9. Quick Practice

Q: Divide 45 pencils in the ratio 2 : 3.

A:
Total parts = 5
Each part = 45 ÷ 5 = 9
→ First = 2 × 9 = 18
→ Second = 3 × 9 = 27

✅ Answer: 18 pencils and 27 pencils.

10. Extension: Ratio vs Fraction

 A fraction compares a part to a whole.

 A ratio compares a part to another part (not necessarily the whole).

Example:
In a class of 12 boys and 8 girls:

 Ratio of boys : girls = 12 : 8 = 3 : 2

 Fraction of boys = 12 / (12 + 8) = 12/20 = 3/5
� 50 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS — TOPIC:
RATIO

Basic Concept

1. The ratio of 8 to 4 is:

o A. 1 : 2
o B. 2 : 1
o C. 4 : 8
o D. 8 : 2
2. Simplify the ratio 12 : 18.
o A. 2 : 3
o B. 3 : 2
o C. 4 : 6
o D. 6 : 9
3. 20 pens and 30 pencils. The ratio of pens to pencils is:
o A. 2 : 3
o B. 3 : 2
o C. 1 : 3
o D. 3 : 1
4. Simplify 45 : 60.
o A. 3 : 4
o B. 4 : 3
o C. 9 : 12
o D. 15 : 20
5. The ratio 10 : 25 in its simplest form is:
o A. 2 : 5
o B. 5 : 2
o C. 1 : 3
o D. 3 : 1
6. 500 m : 2 km equals:
o A. 1 : 4
o B. 4 : 1
o C. 1 : 2
o D. 2 : 1
7. Which of the following ratios is equivalent to 3 : 5?
o A. 6 : 10
o B. 5 : 3
o C. 2 : 3
o D. 10 : 6
8. Simplify the ratio 24 minutes : 2 hours.
o A. 1 : 5
o B. 1 : 4
 o C. 2 : 5
o D. 1 : 2
9. Convert 250 g : 2 kg to its simplest form.
o A. 1 : 8
o B. 1 : 4
o C. 1 : 2
o D. 1 : 6
10. Which pair of ratios are equal?
o A. 2 : 3 and 4 : 6
o B. 3 : 2 and 2 : 3
o C. 1 : 2 and 2 : 3
o D. 4 : 5 and 5 : 6

Equivalent and Simplifying Ratios

11. 16 : 24 = ? : 3
o A. 2
o B. 1
o C. 4
o D. 8
12. 9 : 12 is the same as:
o A. 3 : 4
o B. 4 : 3
o C. 9 : 16
o D. 6 : 8
13. If 5 : x = 15 : 45, find x.
o A. 10
o B. 15
o C. 25
o D. 20
14. 4 : 6 = 10 : ?
o A. 12
o B. 15
o C. 20
o D. 8
15. Which of the following ratios equals 7 : 14?
o A. 1 : 3
o B. 1 : 2
o C. 2 : 1
o D. 3 : 1

Sharing Quantities
 16. Divide $60 in the ratio 2 : 3. The smaller share is:
o A. $20
o B. $24
o C. $30
o D. $36
17. Divide 72 apples between A and B in the ratio 5 : 3.
The number of apples for A is:
o A. 30
o B. 40
o C. 45
o D. 50
18. Share 90 chocolates in the ratio 4 : 5.
o A. 36 and 54
o B. 40 and 50
o C. 45 and 55
o D. 30 and 60
19. $180 is divided among A, B, and C in the ratio 2 : 3 : 4.
How much does C get?
o A. $60
o B. $70
o C. $80
o D. $90
20. Divide 120 kg of rice in the ratio 1 : 3.
o A. 30 kg and 90 kg
o B. 40 kg and 80 kg
o C. 20 kg and 100 kg
o D. 60 kg and 60 kg

Application Problems

21. The ratio of red balls to blue balls is 3 : 7.

If there are 70 blue balls, how many red balls are there?
o A. 21
o B. 24
o C. 30
o D. 25
22. The ratio of boys to girls in a class is 5 : 3.
If there are 24 girls, how many boys are there?
o A. 30
o B. 36
o C. 40
o D. 45
23. The ratio of cats to dogs is 2 : 5.
If there are 21 dogs, how many cats are there?
 o A. 6
o B. 7
o C. 8
o D. 9
24. The scale of a map is 1 : 100,000.
If two towns are 3 cm apart on the map, how far are they actually?
o A. 3 km
o B. 30 km
o C. 300 km
o D. 0.3 km
25. The mixture of milk and water is in the ratio 5 : 2.
If the total volume is 14 liters, milk is:
o A. 5 L
o B. 10 L
o C. 8 L
o D. 12 L

Three-Term Ratios

26. Simplify 6 : 9 : 12.

o A. 1 : 2 : 3
o B. 2 : 3 : 4
o C. 3 : 4 : 6
o D. 2 : 3 : 4
27. The ratio of A : B : C = 2 : 3 : 5.
If total = 100, how much does B get?
o A. 20
o B. 25
o C. 30
o D. 50
28. In the ratio 3 : 2 : 1, the total is 72.
Find the value of the first part.
o A. 36
o B. 24
o C. 18
o D. 12
29. If 12 : x : 20 = 3 : 2 : 5, find x.
o A. 6
o B. 8
o C. 10
o D. 12
30. Divide $120 among A, B, and C in the ratio 1 : 2 : 3.
C receives:
o A. $20
 o B. $30
o C. $40
o D. $60

Word and Mixed Problems

31. The ratio of blue paint to yellow paint is 2 : 3.

To make 10 liters of mixture, how much yellow paint is needed?
o A. 4 L
o B. 5 L
o C. 6 L
o D. 3 L
32. The ratio of length to width of a rectangle is 4 : 3.
If the width is 9 cm, the length is:
o A. 12 cm
o B. 10 cm
o C. 15 cm
o D. 18 cm
33. The ratio of sugar to flour is 2 : 5.
If 6 kg of sugar is used, how much flour is needed?
o A. 10 kg
o B. 12 kg
o C. 15 kg
o D. 18 kg
34. The ratio of A’s money to B’s is 3 : 5.
If A has $36, how much does B have?
o A. $45
o B. $50
o C. $60
o D. $70
35. In a zoo, the ratio of lions to tigers to bears is 4 : 2 : 1.
If there are 21 animals, how many tigers are there?
o A. 6
o B. 7
o C. 8
o D. 9

Challenging and Higher-Order Thinking

36. 3 : 4 = 9 : x. Find x.
o A. 10
o B. 11
 o C. 12
o D. 15
37. If x : y = 2 : 3 and y : z = 4 : 5, then x : y : z =
o A. 2 : 3 : 4
o B. 8 : 12 : 15
o C. 4 : 6 : 8
o D. 3 : 4 : 5
38. The ratio of two numbers is 5 : 8.
Their sum is 78. Find the numbers.
o A. 30 and 48
o B. 35 and 43
o C. 25 and 53
o D. 20 and 58
39. The ratio of length to breadth is 7 : 2.
If the perimeter is 90 cm, find the length.
o A. 45 cm
o B. 50 cm
o C. 63 cm
o D. 70 cm
40. A : B = 3 : 4 and B : C = 2 : 5. Find A : B : C.
o A. 3 : 4 : 5
o B. 6 : 8 : 20
o C. 3 : 2 : 5
o D. 4 : 6 : 8

Unit Conversion and Real-Life Use

41. Convert 2 hours : 45 minutes into the simplest ratio.

o A. 4 : 3
o B. 8 : 3
o C. 3 : 2
o D. 2 : 3
42. Ratio of 500 ml to 2 L = ?
o A. 1 : 4
o B. 1 : 2
o C. 2 : 3
o D. 3 : 1
43. Convert 60 cm : 2 m to its simplest ratio.
o A. 3 : 10
o B. 1 : 3
o C. 2 : 5
o D. 6 : 20
44. The scale of a map is 1 : 250,000.
A distance of 5 cm represents:
 o A. 1 km
o B. 10 km
o C. 12.5 km
o D. 15 km
45. The ratio of speed of car A to car B is 3 : 5.
If car B travels 200 km, car A travels:
o A. 100 km
o B. 120 km
o C. 150 km
o D. 180 km

Mixed Review

46. Which of the following ratios is the largest value?

o A. 3 : 4
o B. 2 : 5
o C. 4 : 5
o D. 5 : 6
47. If 12 : x = 4 : 5, then x =
o A. 10
o B. 15
o C. 18
o D. 20
48. The ratio 0.4 : 0.8 simplifies to:
o A. 1 : 3
o B. 1 : 2
o C. 2 : 3
o D. 3 : 4
49. The ratio of A’s marks to B’s marks is 7 : 9.
If the total is 128, A’s marks are:
o A. 56
o B. 63
o C. 72
o D. 64
50. A recipe calls for sugar and flour in the ratio 2 : 5.
If 250 g of flour is used, how much sugar is needed?
o A. 50 g
o B. 80 g
o C. 100 g
o D. 120 g
No Key No Key No Key No Key No Key
1 B 11 C 21 C 31 B 41 B
2 A 12 A 22 C 32 C 42 A
3 A 13 A 23 B 33 C 43 A
4 A 14 B 24 B 34 C 44 C
5 A 15 B 25 B 35 B 45 C
6 A 16 B 26 B 36 C 46 D
7 A 17 C 27 C 37 B 47 B
8 B 18 A 28 A 38 A 48 B
9 B 19 D 29 B 39 A 49 B
10 A 20 A 30 D 40 B 50 C