Lecture Notes: Ratio, Proportion, and Rates

1. Ratio
Definition: A ratio is a way to compare the size of two or more quantities. Ratios are closely
related to fractions but compare parts to parts or parts to the whole.
 No Units: Ratios are written in their simplest form with no units.
 Simplification: Just like fractions, you simplify ratios by dividing all parts by the
highest common factor (HCF).
o Example: 20 cents: 24 cents, divide by 4, you get- 5:6.

Key Concepts
1. Unit Consistency: Before simplifying, ensure all quantities are in the same units
(e.g., convert kilograms to grams).
2. Forms of Ratio:
o Simple Form: Uses whole numbers (e.g., 5:6).

o 1:n Form: Divide both sides by the first number (e.g., 5:6, divide by 5

you get- 1:1.2

o n:1 Form: Divide both sides by the second number (e.g., 5:6 , divide by 5

o you get- 0.833:1

3. Sharing in a Ratio: To divide a quantity in a ratio a:b:

o Find the total number of parts: a + b.

o Divide the total quantity by the total parts to find the value of one part.

o Multiply the value of 1 part by a and b to find the shares.

To split Q in ratio m:n, parts = m+n. First part = Q * m/(m+n),

second part = Q * n/(m+n).
2. Proportion
Proportion describes the relationship between two variable quantities.
Types of Proportion
1. Direct Proportion:
o As one quantity increases, the other increases at the same rate.

o Method: Use the Unitary Method (find the value of 1 unit first) or cross-
multiplication.
o Formula: y = k(constant) times x.

o Example: If 4 apples cost 80 cents, 8 apples cost 160 cents. The ratio of
Cost:Number is fixed

2. Inverse (Indirect) Proportion:

o As one quantity increases, the other decreases.

o The product of the two quantities remains constant.

o Example: Speed and Time. If you double your speed, your travel time is
halved.
o Formula: x times y = k (constant).

o Common Scenario: Workers and Time. More workers need Less time to finish
a job.

3. Rates
Definition: A rate compares quantities with different units (e.g., distance and time).
 Unlike ratios, rates must have units attached.
 The symbol "/" (per) indicates division.
Common Rates
 Speed: Measures distance per unit of time (m/s or km/h).
 Speed = distance / time.
 Population Density: Number of People/Land Area (people/km2)
  Density: Mas / Volume (g/cm3)
 Exchange Rates: Value of one currency in terms of another. Dollars to BDT etc.
 Use consistent units before calculating (convert km ↔ m, hours ↔ seconds).

Exercise Solutions
Exercise 1.9A (Ratio)
1. Write each of these ratios in its simplest form.
 a) 10:8
o Divide by 2, 5:4

 b) 15:6
o Divide by 3, 5:2

 c) 36:48
o Divide by 12, 3:4

 d) 35:42
o Divide by 7, 5:6

 e) 735:490
o Divide by 5, 147:98. Divide by 49, 3:2

 f) 25 kg to 1800 g
o Convert to grams: 25000:1800. Divide by 100, 250:18. Divide by 2, 125:9

 g) 20 mm to 6.4 cm
o Convert to mm: 20:64. Divide by 4, 5:16

 h) 42 minutes to 1.5 hours

o Convert to minutes (1.5 times 60 = 90), 42:90. Divide by 6, 7:15

 i) 5.6 m to 0.007 km
o Convert to meters (0.007 times 1000 = 7), 5.6:7. Multiply by 10, 56:70.
Divide by 14, 4:5
 j) 1/4 : 4/5
o Multiply both by LCM (20): 1/4 times 20) : 4/5 times 20) = 5 : 16. 5:16
2. Express these ratios in the form 1:n.
To get 1:n, divide both sides by the first number.
 a) 2:500 Divide by 2, 1:250
 b) 5:375 Divide by 5, 1:75
 c) 4:0.8 Divide by 4, 1:0.2
 d) 25:10000 Divide by 25, 1:400
 e) 1.6:1280 Divide by 1.6, 1:800
 f) 6.5:1300 Divide by 6.5, 1:200
 g) 5:80 Divide by 5, 1:16
 h) 0.5:1600 Divide by 0.5, 1:3200
 i) 1/5:12 Multiply by 5, 1:60
 j) 3/8:1/4 Divide by 3/8 (multiply by 8/3) 1 : 1/4 times 8/3) = 1:2/3 1:0.66

3. Divide the following quantities in the given ratios.

 a) 40 in ratio 1:3
o Total parts 1+3=4. One part = 40/4 = 10.

o 10 and 30

 b) 600 in ratio 2:3

o Total parts 5. One part = 600/5 = 120.

o 2 times 120 : 3 times 120, 240 and 360

 c) 320 in ratio 5:3

o Total parts 8. One part = 320/8 = 40.

o 5 times 40 : 3 times 40 200 and 120

 d) 154 kg in ratio 3:4

o Total parts 7. One part = 154/7 = 22.

o 3 times 22 : 4 times 22 66 kg and 88 kg

 e) 378 m in ratio 4:5

o Total parts 9. One part = 378/9 = 42.

o 4 times 42 : 5 times 42 168 m and 210 m

 f) 3468 cm in ratio 1:50
o Total parts 51. One part = 3468/51 = 68.

o 1 times 68 : 50 times 68 68 cm and 3400 cm

 g) 1348.5 mm in ratio 18:11

o Total parts 29. One part = 1348.5/29 = 46.5.

o 18 times 46.5 : 11 times 46.5 837 mm and 511.5 mm

 h) 1800 in ratio 2:3:4

o Total parts 2+3+4=9. One part = 1800/9 = 200.

o 400, 600, 800

 i) 5954.40 in ratio 13:12:11

o Total parts 36. One part = 5954.40/36 = 165.4.

o 13 times 165.4 : 12 times 165.4 : 11 times 165.4, 2150.20, 1984.80, 1819.40

 j) 200 in ratio (n-1):8:(n+1) where smallest share is 50.

o There are three shares. The smallest share is 50.

o If total is 200, the remaining amount is 200 - 50 = 150.

o Case 1: (n-1) is the smallest part. Then share (n-1) = 50.

 Value of 1 part = 50/(n-1). This gets complex.

o Alternative Approach: The sum of parts is (n-1)+8+(n+1) = 2n + 8.

o Value of one "unit" of ratio = 200 / (2n+8).

o If smallest share is 50, then ratio fraction is 50/200 = 1/4. The smallest term is
1/4 of the total sum of ratio terms.
o Smallest term is likely (n-1). So (n-1)/(2n+8) = 1/4 4(n-1) = 2n+8 4n-4 =
2n+8 2n=12 n=6.
o If n=6, ratio is 5:8:7. Smallest is 5. Sum is 20. 5/20 times 200 = 50. This
works.
o If (n+1) was smallest, impossible since n-1 < n+1.

o If 8 was smallest, 8/(2n+8) = 1/4 32 = 2n+8 2n=24 n=12. Ratio: 11:8:13.

Smallest is 8. 8/32 times 200 = 50. This also works.
o Answer: n=6 (Ratio 5:8:7) or n=12 (Ratio 11:8:13).
4. Express map scales in form 1:n.
Convert ground distance to same unit as map distance.
 a) 1 cm : 400 m 1 cm : 40,000 cm 1:40,000
 b) 2 cm : 5000 m 2 cm : 500,000 cm 1:250,000
 c) 4 cm : 20 km 4 cm : 2,000,000 cm 1:500,000
 d) 5 cm : 600 km 5 cm : 60,000,000 cm 1:12,000,000
 e) 1.5 cm : 450 km 1.5 cm : 45,000,000 cm Divide by 1.5 1:30,000,000
5. School pupils 816, Ratio Girls:Boys = 13:11.
 Total parts 13+11=24.
 One part = 816/24 = 34.
 Girls = 13 times 34 = 442. Boys = 11 times 34 = 374.
 Difference = 442 - 374 = 68 more girls.
6. Ratio Female:Male = 18:17. 2214 Females.
 18 parts = 2214.
 1 part = 2214/18 = 123.
 Males (17 parts) = 17 times 123 = 2091 males.
7. Prize 1946 ratio 3:4:7.
 Total parts 3+4+7=14. One part = 1946/14 = 139.
 Smallest share (3 parts) = 3 times 139 = 417.
 Largest share (7 parts) = 7 times 139 = 973.
 Difference = 973 - 417 = 556
8. Cake Recipe (Flour:Sugar:Butter = 12:3:1).
 a) Sugar for 570g Flour:
o Flour is 12 parts = 570g.

o 1 part = 570/12 = 47.5g.

o Sugar (3 parts) = 3 times 47.5 = 142.5g.

 b) Total mass for 32g Butter:

o Butter is 1 part = 32g.

o Total parts = 12+3+1 = 16.

 o Total mass = 16 times 32 = 512g

9. Map Scale (4cm represents 800,000cm).

 a) Find n:
o 4:800,000 Divide by 4 1:200,000. n=200,000.

 b) 6.5 cm on map to km:

o Ground distance = 6.5 times 200,000 = 1,300,000 cm.

o Convert to km: Divide by 100,000 13 km.

 c) 3600 m road to map length in mm:

o Ground = 3600 m = 360,000 cm.

o Map = 360,000 / 200,000 = 1.8 cm.

o Convert to mm 18 mm

Exercise 1.9B (Proportion)

1. 80 bricks cost 100. Cost of 60 bricks?
 Cost per brick = 100/80 = 1.25.
 Cost for 60 = 60 times 1.25 = 75.
2. 16m^2 painted in 40 mins. Time for 10m2?
 Time per m2 = 40/16 = 2.5 mins.
 Time for 10m2 = 10 times 2.5 = 25 minutes.
3. 18 paving stones in 2 hours (120 mins). Time for 15?
 Time per stone = 120/18 = 6.66 mins.
 Time for 15 = 15 times 120/18 = 100 minutes.
 1 hour 40 minutes.
4. 3 people need 705g potatoes. 8 people?
 Per person = 705/3 = 235g.
 For 8 people = 8 times 235 = 1880g.
 In kg 1.88 kg.
5. Map Scale 1:40,000. Field 1.5cm by 2.4cm.
 a) Actual measurements in meters:
 o 1.5 times 40,000 = 60,000 cm = 600 m.

o 2.4 times 40,000 = 96,000 cm = 960 m.

 b) Area in m2:
o Area = 600 times 960 = 576,000 m2.

 c) Area in cm2:
o 576,000 times 10,000 = 5,760,000,000 cm2 (5.76 times 109).

 d) Ratio 1:n for area:

o Map Area = 1.5 times 2.4 = 3.6 cm2.

o Actual Area = 5,760,000,000 cm2.

o Ratio 3.6: 5,760,000,000. Divide by 3.6 1 : 1,600,000,000.

o Note: Area scale is linear scale squared (40,0002 = 1,600,000,000).

o n = 1.6 times 109.

6. Washing cars (6.50) vs Windows (1.30). Equivalent of 12 cars?

 Income from 12 cars = 12 times 6.50 = 78.
 Windows needed = 78 / 1.30 = 60 windows.
7. 4 people paint fence in 5 days. 5 people? (Inverse Proportion)
 Total work = 4 people times 5 days = 20 person-days.
 Time for 5 people = 20 / 5 = 4 days.
8. 5 machines take 16 hours. 8 machines? (Inverse Proportion)
 Total work = 5 times 16 = 80 machine-hours.
 Time for 8 machines = 80 / 8 = 10 hours.
9. Battery: 6 fans for 18 hours. 2 batteries operate 8 fans?
 Energy in 1 battery = 6 fans times 18 hours = 108 fan-hours.
 Energy in 2 batteries = 2 times 108 = 216 fan-hours.
 Time for 8 fans = 216 / 8 = 27 hours.
10. 6 people, 7 hours/day, 3 days. 4 people, 5 days, how many hours/day?
 Total work (man-hours) = 6 people times 7h times 3 days = 126 hours.
 New situation: 4 people times 5 days times H = 126.
 20H = 126, H = 6.3 hours.
  0.3 hours = 0.3 times 60 = 18 mins.
 6 hours 18 minutes (or 6.3 hours).
11. 12 people, 50m trench, 4 hours. 8 people, 125m trench?
 Rate of work: 12 people do 50m in 4h.
 Work required per meter: (12 people times 4 hours)/ 50 meters = 48/50
= 0.96 person-hours per meter.
 New trench is 125m. Total effort needed = 125 times 0.96 = 120 person-hours.
 We have 8 people. Time = 120 / 8 = 15 hours.

Exercise 1.10 (Rates)

1. Calculate average speed. (Note: 3.6 km/h = 1 m/s)
 a) 289 km in 3.4 h: 289/3.4 = 85 km/h.
 b) 28 m in 0.4 s: 28/0.4 = 70 m/s.
 c) 2.4 km in 20 mins:
o 20 mins = 1/3 h. Speed = 2.4 / (1/3) = 7.2 km/h.

o m/s: 7.2 / 3.6 = 2 m/s.

 d) 1000 m in 12.5 s:
o Speed = 1000/12.5 = 80 m/s.

o km/h: 80 times 3.6 = 288 km/h.

 e) 250 mm in 0.05 s: 250/0.05 = 5000 mm/s = 5 m/s.

 f) 58 km in 2h 25m:
o 2h 25m = 2 + 25/60 = 2.4167 h.

o Speed = 58 / 2.4167 = 24 km/h.

 g) 14 km in 1250 s:
o 14 km = 14000 m. Speed = 14000/1250 = 11.2 m/s.

o km/h: 11.2 times 3.6 = 40.32 km/h.

 h) 373,200 km in 2d 3h 50m:
o Total hours = 48 + 3 + 50/60 = 51.833 h.

o Speed = 373200 / 51.833 ; approx 7200 km/h.

2. Ralph's Pay.
 a) Hourly Rate:
o 7h 30m = 7.5 hours. Paid 54$.

o Rate = 54 / 7.5 = 7.20$ per hour.

 b) Late Penalty:
o Missed 2.25 hours (2h 15m).

o Worked 7.5 - 2.25 = 5.25 hours.

o Earned = 5.25 times 7.20 = 37.80.

3. Absentee Rate.
 378 absences / 28 days = 13.5 absences/day.
4. Tap Flow (75 litres / 10 mins).
 Rate = 7.5 litres/min = 0.125 litres/sec.
 a) In 10 seconds: 0.125 times 10 = 1.25 litres.
 b) Time for 420 litres: 420 / 7.5 = 56 minutes.
5. Fuel Consumption (2.7 km uses 1.62 L).
 a) km per litre: 2.7 / 1.62 = 1.66... (or 5/3) km/litre.
 b) litres per 100 km:
o L needed for 1 km = 1.62 / 2.7 = 0.6 L.

o For 100 km = 0.6 times 100 = 60 litres/100 km.

6. Conversions (5 miles approx. 8 km).

 a) 40 km/h in mph:
o 40 km times (5 miles / 8 km) = 25 miles.

o 25 mph.

 b) 72 mph in m/s:
o Convert to km/h: 72 times (8/5) = 115.2 km/h.

o Convert to m/s: 115.2 / 3.6 = 32 m/s.

7. Earth Rotation (360 circ per 24 hours).

 Rate per hour = 360/24 = 15 circ/hour.
 Rate per minute = 15/60 = 0.25 circ/minute.
  a) Time for 65 circ:
o 65 / 15 = 4.333 hours.

o 0.333 hours = 20 mins.

o 4 hours 20 minutes.

 b) Angle in 1200 mins:

o 1200 times 0.25 circ = 300 circ.

8. Plant Growth (3.6 cm in 8 hours).

 Time: 7am to 3pm = 8 hours = 480 minutes.
 Growth: 3.6 cm = 36 mm.
 Rate = 36 mm / 480 mins = 0.075 mm/minute.