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Ratio, proportion and rates
Lesson 37 of 75
Easy practice

Changing a ratio

Objective. Update a ratio when quantities are added or removed.

  1. 1. Learn
  2. 2. Worked example
  3. 3. Practice
  4. 4. Feedback
  5. 5. Continue

Learn: the key idea

Changing a ratio develops a connected mathematical idea rather than an isolated trick. Solve sophisticated scaling and comparison problems. Begin by representing the quantities or relationships, choose a rule that fits, justify each transformation, and finish by checking units, signs, scale and whether the answer is reasonable.

Worked example

Simplify 16:24.

Clock face showing 4 hours and 24 minutes
  1. 1Identify the known information, the unknown and any conditions.
  2. 2Choose a diagram, table, graph or algebraic representation that exposes the structure.
  3. 3Apply the relevant rule one justified step at a time, keeping exact values where useful.
  4. 4Check by substitution, inverse reasoning or estimation. The result is 2:3.

Answer: 2:3

Concept mastery

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Practice

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Common mistake. A common error in changing a ratio is to copy a procedure without checking its conditions. Label the structure first and justify every sign, operation and unit.

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