Introduction to Ratios (Edexcel IGCSE Maths A (Modular))

Ratios

What is a ratio?

• A ratio is a way of comparing one part of a whole to another

  • Ratios are used to compare one part to another part

What do ratios look like?

• Ratios involve two or three different numbers separated using a colon

  • E.g. 2 : 5,  3 : 1,  4 : 2 : 3 

• In all ratio questions, who or what is mentioned first in the question, will be associated with the first part of the ratio

  • E.g. The cake recipe with flour and butter in the ratio 2 : 1

    • 'Flour' is associated with '2' and 'butter' is associated with '1'

• The numbers in a ratio tell us, for each quantity involved, its proportion of the whole 

  • In the ratio 4 : 3

    • The first quantity comprises 4 parts (of the whole)

    • The second quantity comprises 3 parts (of the whole)

    • In total, the whole is made up of 4 + 3 = 7 parts

  • In the ratio 2 : 5 : 3

    • The first quantity comprises 2 parts (of the whole)

    • The second quantity comprises 5 parts (of the whole)

    • The third quantity comprises 3 parts (of the whole)

    • In total, the whole is made up of 2 + 5 + 3 = 10 parts

What is an equivalent ratio?

• Equivalent ratios are two ratios that represent the same proportion of quantities within a whole

  • E.g. The ratio 5 : 10 is equivalent to 20 : 40

• Equivalent ratios are frequently used when the values involved take on a real-life meaning

  • E.g. A cake recipe involves flour and butter being mixed in the ratio 3 : 2

    • 3 g of flour and 2 g of butter would not lead to a very big cake

    • An equivalent ratio of 300 : 200 gives a more realistic 300 g of flour and 200 g of butter

How do I find an equivalent ratio?

• You can find an equivalent ratio by multiplying (or dividing) each part of the ratio by the same value

  • E.g. Multiply each part of the ratio 2 : 3 : 7 by 4 to find an equivalent ratio of 8 : 12 : 28

  • Ratios can be scaled up or down to suit the context of a question

• The size of each part in the ratio, relative to the others, is still the same

  • The actual values in the equivalent ratio may be more meaningful in the context of the situation

• Finding equivalent ratios is similar to finding equivalent fractions

  • However it is crucial to remember that 1 : 4 is not equivalent to 

What is a simplified ratio?

• Simplifying a ratio involves finding an equivalent ratio where the numbers involved are smaller

  • E.g. The ratio 45 : 30 is equivalent to 9 : 6

• A ratio is in its simplest form when

  • All of the values in the ratio are integers

  • There are no common factors between each of the values in the ratio

  • E.g. The simplest form of the ratio 45 : 30 is 3 : 2

How do I simplify a ratio?

• Divide each part of the ratio by the same value

  • This value should be a common factor of all parts of the ratio

    • Ideally, the highest common factor (HCF) should be used to get the ratio into its simplest form in one go

    • If the HCF is not used, we can repeat the process of simplifying

  • E.g. Divide all parts of the ratio 30 : 66 : 12 by 6 to find the ratio in its simplest form 5 : 11 : 2