Word Problems - Ratio & Proportion
In these lessons, we will learn how to solve ratio and proportion word problems using models or block diagrams. (Singapore Math).
Word problem on finding out the ratio between 2 items given their quantities explained using models
Example:
300 children participated in a painting contest. 120 of them were boys
a) Find the ratio of the number of boys to the number of girls
b) Find the ratio of the number of girls to the number of boys
c) Find the ratio of the number of boys to the total number of children
d) the ratio of the number of girls to the total number of children.
How to use models to find out the ratio between the heights of two objects and what ratio really means?
Example:
Last year Ben was 4 feet tall and Jenny was 3 feet tall. Both children have grown by 1 foot since last year. Find the ratio of Ben’s present height to Jenny’s present height.
A ratio word problem to explain how to find out the quantity of one item given the quantity of a second item and their ratio
Example:
Mia has 20 black marbles and 15 red marbles. Alex has 8 black marbles and some red marbles. The ratio of the number of black marbles to the number of red marbles that Mia has is the same as the ratio of the black marbles to the red marbles that Alex has. Find the number of red marbles that Alex has.
A word problem on ratio of intermediate difficulty level explained using the visual method of model drawing
Example:
Mac has 200 white and black horses on his farm.The ratio of the number of black horses to the number of white horses is 2:3. Find the number of white horses on Mac’s farm.
A ratio word problem of intermediate difficulty level
Finding out ratio between 2 things given their quantities. Involves unit conversion. Explained using visual drawings called models.
Example:
Rita is 12 years 6 months old. Jet is 4 years 2 months younger than Rita. Find the ratio of Jet’s age to Rita’s age.
How to solve a word problem solved using 2 different approaches? 1) unit method of model drawing and 2) ratio.
Example:
The following ingredients are used to make strawberry shake for four children. 8 cups milk, 2 cups strawberries, 4 cups ice-cubes.
What are the quantities of each ingredient that you will need to make strawberry shake for 7 children?
A word problem to show the relation between ratios and fractions using Singapore’s model method of problem solving
Example:
Town A has 2/5 of the population of Town B. What is the ratio of the population of Town A to the population of Town B?
A ratio word problem of intermediate level involving 3 objects and their quantities
Solved using models.
Example:
A piece of fabric is colored green, white and pink in the ratio 3:2:1.
If 45 cm of the fabric is green, what is the length of the fabric that is colored white?
A word problem based on the principles of ratio and measurement (length) Explained and solved using the visual method of model drawing.
Example:
160m of fence is used to border a 50-m long rectangular field.
Find the ratio of the length to the width (breadth) of this rectangular field.
An intermediate level ratio and measurement word problem involving unit conversion and explained using the model method or solving mathematics problems
Example:
Alice has 250 ml of soda and 1 liter of water. What is the ratio of the volume of soda to the volume of water that Alic has?
A word problem to reinforce the basic principle of equivalent ratio
Example:
A fruit seller makes fruit baskets with apples, oranges and mangoes in the ratio 3:5:2.
If he packs a total of 90 mangoes with 6 mangoes in each basket, how many pieces of fruit does he pack in total?
Try the free Mathway calculator and
problem solver below to practice various math topics. Try the given examples, or type in your own
problem and check your answer with the step-by-step explanations.
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