SSAT Middle Level Math : Ratio and Proportion

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Middle Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Ratio And Proportion

Which ratio is equivalent to \(\displaystyle 10 \frac{1}{2} : 1 \frac{1}{2}\) ?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 7:1\)

\(\displaystyle 13:2\)

\(\displaystyle 6:1\)

\(\displaystyle 8:1\)

\(\displaystyle 15:2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 7:1\)

Explanation:

A ratio can be rewritten as a quotient; do this, and simplify it.

\(\displaystyle 10 \frac{1}{2} : 1 \frac{1}{2}\)

Rewrite as

 \(\displaystyle 10 \frac{1}{2} \div 1 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{21}{2} \div \frac{3}{2} = \frac{21}{2} \cdot \frac{2}{3} = \frac{7}{1} \cdot \frac{1}{1} = \frac{7}{1}\)

or \(\displaystyle 7:1\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find A Ratio

A soccer team played 20 games, winning 5 of them.  The ratio of wins to losses is 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1\ to\ 4\)

\(\displaystyle 1\ to\ 3\)

\(\displaystyle 1\ to\ 5\)

\(\displaystyle 4\ to\ 1\)

\(\displaystyle 3\ to\ 1\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1\ to\ 3\)

Explanation:

The ratio of wins to losses requires knowing the number of wins and losses.  The question says that there are 5 wins.  That means there must have been

\(\displaystyle 20-5=15\) losses. 

The ratio of wins to losses is thus 5 to 15 or 1 to 3.

Example Question #1 : Ratio And Proportion

Rewrite this ratio in the simplest form: \(\displaystyle 90: 63\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 8:5\)

\(\displaystyle 3:2\)

\(\displaystyle 7:5\)

\(\displaystyle 13:9\)

\(\displaystyle 10:7\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10:7\)

Explanation:

Rewrite in fraction form for the sake of simplicity, then divide each number by \(\displaystyle GCF (90,63) = 9\):

\(\displaystyle \frac{90}{63} = \frac{90\div 9}{63\div 9} = \frac{10}{7}\)

The ratio, in simplest form, is \(\displaystyle 10:7\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find A Ratio

Rewrite this ratio in the simplest form:

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}: \frac{5}{12}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2:1\)

\(\displaystyle 9:5\)

\(\displaystyle 3:2\)

\(\displaystyle 6:5\)

\(\displaystyle 8:5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 8:5\)

Explanation:

A ratio involving fractions can be simplified by rewriting it as a complex fraction, and simplifying it by division:

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{2}{3}}{\frac{5}{12}} = \frac{2}{3} \div \frac{5}{12}\)

Write as a product by taking the reciprocal of the divisor, cross-cancel, then multiply it out:

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3} \div \frac{5}{12} = \frac{2}{3} \times \frac{12}{5} = \frac{2}{1} \times \frac{4}{5} =\frac{8}{5}\)

The ratio simplifies to \(\displaystyle 8:5\)

Example Question #2 : How To Find A Ratio

Rewrite this ratio in the simplest form:

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{5} : \frac{3}{10}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2:1\)

\(\displaystyle 4:3\)

\(\displaystyle 3:1\)

\(\displaystyle 5:2\)

\(\displaystyle 8:3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 8:3\)

Explanation:

A ratio involving fractions can be simplified by rewriting it as a complex fraction, and simplifying it by division:

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{4}{5}}{\frac{3}{10}} = \frac{4}{5} \div \frac{3}{10}\)

Write as a product by taking the reciprocal of the divisor, cross-cancel, then multiply it out:

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{5} \div \frac{3}{10} = \frac{4}{5} \times \frac{10}{3} = \frac{4}{1} \times \frac{2}{3} =\frac{8}{3}\)

The ratio simplifies to \(\displaystyle 8:3\)

Example Question #3 : How To Find A Ratio

Rewrite this ratio in the simplest form: \(\displaystyle 72 : 42\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 12 : 7\)

\(\displaystyle 13:8\)

\(\displaystyle 3:1\)

\(\displaystyle 5:2\)

\(\displaystyle 13: 7\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 12 : 7\)

Explanation:

Rewrite in fraction form for the sake of simplicity, then divide each number by \(\displaystyle GCF (72,42) = 6\):

\(\displaystyle \frac{72}{42}= \frac{72\div 6}{42\div 6}= \frac{12}{7}\)

In simplest form, the ratio is \(\displaystyle 12:7\)

 

Example Question #4 : How To Find A Ratio

Squares

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

Refer to the above diagram. If one side of the smaller square is three-fifths the length of one side of the larger square, what is the ratio of the area of the gray region to that of the white region?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 4:3\)

\(\displaystyle 16:9\)

\(\displaystyle 5:3\)

\(\displaystyle 2:1\)

\(\displaystyle 3:2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 16:9\)

Explanation:

Since the answer to this question does not depend on the actual lengths of the sides, we will assume for simplicity that the larger square has sidelength 5; if this is the case, the smaller square has sidelength 3. The areas of the large and small squares are, respectively, \(\displaystyle 5^{2} = 25\) and \(\displaystyle 3^{2} = 9\)

The white region is the small square and has area 9. The grey region is the small square cut out of the large square and has area \(\displaystyle 25-9=16\). Therefore, the ratio of the area of the gray region to that of the white region is 16 to 9.

Example Question #1 : How To Find A Ratio

Squares

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

Refer to the above diagram. If one side of the smaller square is three-fourths the length of one side of the larger square, what is the ratio of the area of the gray region to that of the white region?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 7:9\)

\(\displaystyle 11:16\)

\(\displaystyle 3:4\)

\(\displaystyle 5:8\)

\(\displaystyle 2:3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 7:9\)

Explanation:

Since the answer to this question does not depend on the actual lengths of the sides, we will assume for simplicity that the larger square has sidelength \(\displaystyle 4\); if this is the case, the smaller square has sidelength \(\displaystyle 3\). The areas of the large and small squares are, respectively, \(\displaystyle 4^{2} = 16\) and \(\displaystyle 3^{2} = 9\)

The white region is the small square and has area \(\displaystyle 9\). The grey region is the small square cut out of the large square and has area \(\displaystyle 16-9=7\). Therefore, the ratio of the area of the gray region to that of the white region is \(\displaystyle 7\) to \(\displaystyle 9\).

Example Question #1 : Ratio And Proportion

Express the following ratio in simplest form: \(\displaystyle 150:60\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 5:2\)

\(\displaystyle 5:3\)

\(\displaystyle 8:5\)

\(\displaystyle 7:2\)

\(\displaystyle 8:3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 5:2\)

Explanation:

Rewrite this in fraction form for the sake of simplicity, and divide both numbers by \(\displaystyle GCF (150,60) = 30\):

\(\displaystyle \frac{150}{60}=\frac{150\div 30}{60\div 30} = \frac{5}{2}\)

The ratio, simplified, is \(\displaystyle 5:2\).

Example Question #2 : Numbers And Operations

Express this ratio in simplest form: \(\displaystyle 6 \frac{2}{5} : \frac{4}{5}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 7:1\)

\(\displaystyle 13:2\)

\(\displaystyle 9:1\)

\(\displaystyle 5:1\)

\(\displaystyle 8:1\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 8:1\)

Explanation:

A ratio of fractions can best be solved by dividing the first number by the second. Rewrite the mixed fraction as an improper fraction, rewrite the problem as a multiplication by taking the reciprocal of the second fraction, and corss-cancel: 

\(\displaystyle 6 \frac{2}{5} \div \frac{4}{5} = \frac{32}{5} \div \frac{4}{5} = \frac{32}{5} \cdot \frac{5} {4} =\frac{8}{1} \cdot \frac{1} {1} =\frac{8}{1}\)

The ratio, simplified, is \(\displaystyle 8:1\).

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