Ratio and Proportion

RATIO AND PROPORTION

We use numbers in everyday life quite frequently.One of the uses of numbers is for
comparison.When two things of same kind are attributed numerical values,we are able to
compare them.This comparison is expressed in phreases like ‘is greater than’,’is multiple
of’ etc.

Let us take an example , a familiar situation in which Vignesh scored 17 runs while
Vinay amassed 51 runs in an inning of cricket.Then we say,
1) Vinay scored 34 runs more than Vignesh or Vignesh scored 34 runs less than Vinay or
2) Vinay scored three times as many runs as Vignesh or we say that Vignesh scored only
one third of the runs scored by Vinay.

When we compare in the way as (2), we are finding the ratio between the two numbers.In
short,the ratio between two quantities ‘a’ and ‘b’( where b>0 is the value of fraction a/b
in its lowest terms)

Let us revise a few things about ratio.

To find the ratio of the first number to the second one ,we find ‘what multiple of second
number is the first number?’ and this is done by dividing the first number by the second
one.

For example, the ratio of 17 to 51 =17/51=1/3

The ratio of 50 to 30=50/30=5/3

The phrase, ‘the ratio of 17 to 51’ is written as ’17:51’ and read as ’17 is to 51’

While comparing two quantities in terms of ratio, we must bear in mind the following:

1) The two quantities must be of same kind.

2) The units of measurement of the two quantities must be the same.

3) As the ratio denotes how many times is one quantity of the other, it is a pure
number( without any unit of measurement)

For example
4m : 80 cm=400cm: 80cm=5:1
1hr 30 min : 2 hrs 15 min=90 min:135min=2:3
The numbers involved in a ratio are called its ‘terms’

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 Ratio and Proportion

That expression of a ratio,both of whose terms do not have common factor other than
one, is called the ratio in its lowest terms.Thus by cancelling the common factor of the
two terms 105 and 135, we obtain the lowest form f the ratio 105:135 as 7:9.

Percentage is a special kind of a ratio . it is a ratio having its second term 100.

Please note down certain important aspects of ratios.

1) when we consider the ratio of two numbers as a:b ,then the first number need not
be ‘a’ and the second number need not be ‘b’.They can be ka and kb, where k is
any non zero multiple of a and b.

2) Two ratios a : b and c: d (a/b and c/d) are said to be equal if a x d = b x c.

2) If two ratios are a:b and b:c, they are briefly written as a:b:c.For example ,when
we say that the ratio of measures of angle A angle B and angle C of triangle ABC
are three is to four is to five( 3 :4 :5)

We really mean to say that

m< A : m<B=3:4 and m<B : m<C= 4:5.
That is, we write the ratio 3:4 and 4:5 in brief as 3:4:5.
Also ,when we say that ratio of four numbers is a : b : c : d, then we mean that the
ratio of three pairs of numbers taken in order are a : b ,b : c , c : d.

PROPORTION:-

Proportion is a very familiar and an important mathematical concept.Let us try to

understand this.
Suppose a fruitseller tells you that the price of oranges is Rs.20 a dozen,that is,Rs
20 for 12 oranges
If you want to buy six oranges,how do you determine their cost?

As the number of oranges is half of one dozen,their cost also has to be

half.Therefore,the cost of 6 oranges is half of rs.20 i.e. Rs 10. In other words,you
think that the cost of oranges in proportion to their number.

Mathematically,proportion is defined as follows:

When a/b=c/d, the numbers a,b,c,d are in proportion.

When a,b,c,d are in proportion ,they are respectively called the first, the
second,the third and the fourth propotionals. a and d are called the extremes,
while b and c are called the means.

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 Ratio and Proportion

For example,14/21=18/27
Therefore 14,21,18,27 are in proportion. 14 and 27 are the extremes while 21 and
18 are the means.

You know that when a/b=c/d,then the products a x d and b x c are equal. So when
four numbers are in proportion, the product of extremes is equal to the product of
means.
The concept of proportion need not be restricted to only two equal ratios. It may
be extended thus.
If a/b=c/d=e/f…..,then a,b,c,d,e… are said to be in proportion.
For example,5/9=20/36=15/27. So 5,9,20,36,15,27 are in proportion.

Continued proportion

Consider the ratios 25:20 and 20:16. These ratios are equal . So, the numbers
25,20,20,16 are in proportion. The means of this proportion are equal. So, we say,
the numbers25,20,16 are in continued proportion.

Generally ,when a / b = b / c then a,b,c are in continued proportion,also,when

a/b=b/c, we get b2 = a x c
When a, b, c are in continued proportion ,b is called the ‘geometric mean’ or ‘
mean proportional’ between a and c.

From the above discussion, we get four equivalent statements.

(1) a/b=b/c
(2) b2 =a x c
(3) a,b,c are in continued proportion and
(4) b is the geometric mean of a and c.

The concept of continued proportion is extended thus.

If a/b=b/c=c/d=……then a,b,c,d….. are said to be in continued proportion. For example,

the ratios 8:12,12:18,18:27 are equal. So the numbers 8,12,18,27 are in continued
proportion.

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 Ratio and Proportion

Exercise

1. Rs 900 is to be distributed amonst A,B and C in the proportion 2:3:4. How much would
C get?
(1) Rs 400
(2) Rs 450
(3) Rs 500
(4) Rs 540
(5) None of these.

2. A purse contains, in all, 378 coins consisting of one rupee,50 paise and 25 paise. The
total values of these coins are in the ratio of 13:11:7. How many coins of one rupee does
the purse contain?
(1) 126
(2) 78
(3) 168
(4) 136
(5) can not be determined

3. Ramesh has two-third of the money as that with Umesh .Umesh has three fifth of the
money as that with Mahesh. If Mahesh has Rs. 1,200, how much does Ramesh have?
(1) Rs 720
(2) Rs 320
(3) Rs 200
(4) Rs 480
(5) none of these

4. A sum of Rs 45 is made up of 100 coins of 50 paise and 25 paise denominations. What

is the ratio of number of 50 paisa coins to those of 25 paisa coins?
(1) 1:3
(2) 1:4
(3) 4:1
(4) 1:2
(5) None of these

5. A gave 1/5th of the money he had to B and B in turn gave 1/3rd of the money he received
from A to C . if C received Rs 20,how much money did A have with him initially?
(1) Rs 300

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 Ratio and Proportion

(2) Rs 320
(3) Rs 200
(4) Rs 480
(5) None of these

6. If the total attendance at a party is 252 ,which of the following cannot be the ratio of
ladies and gents at the party?
(1) 1:5
(2) 1:6
(3) 1:7
(4) 1:8
(5) None of these

7. Last year ,the prices of tea and coffee were in the ratio of 2:3 . Between last year and
this year, the price of tea has risen in the ratio of 5:6 and that of coffee, in the ratio of 7:8.
If this year, a kg of coffee and a kg of tea together cost Rs 51,how much does a kg of
coffee cost?
(1) Rs 17.50
(2) Rs. 21
(3) Rs. 26.25
(4) Rs. 30
(5) None of these

8 The ratio of numbers of rum scored by a cricketer in domestic and international matches
last year was 2:1 .This year, his performance in domestic matches improved in the ratio
of 1:2 and international ones , in the ratio of 2:3 . If the total score this year in domestic
and international matches was 2200 runs, how many runs did he score in international
matches last year?
(1) 400
(2) 600
(3) 800
(4) 1600
(5) none of these

9. The ratio of number of boys and girls in a school is 2:1. Of the girls,3/4 are day scholars
and 2/3rd of them travel to school by bus. If 2/3rd of the boys are day scholars and 3/4th of
them travel by bus, what part of the student community travel to school by bus?
(1)2/3
(2)1/2

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 Ratio and Proportion

(3)1/3
(4)2/5
(5)none of these

10. Three numbers are in the ratio 1:3:5. If the sum of the largest and the smallest equals
the sum of the middle and 60, what is the average of these numbers?
(1) 120
(2) 100
(3) 80
(4) 60
(5) none of these

11. Rs 2,400 is to be distributed among A,B and C in the proportion 3:4:5 respectively. If
the share of “A” is increased by Rs 100 at the cost of “C” , what would be the new
proportion of distribution?
(!) 3:4:9
(2) 1:1:3
(3) 1:1:4
(4) 1:!:1
(5) 7:8:9

12.If x:y is 9:7, then ( x+y) (x-y) is ………………

(1) 8:1
(2) 1:8
(3) 4:1
(4) 1:4
(5) None of the above

13.Three numbers bear a ratio of 1:2:3 and their sum is 1102. what is the third number?
(1)17
(2)34
(3)48
(4)51
(5)None of these

14. Rs 675 is to be distributed among A,B andC in such a way that Rs 10 more than one-
third of A’s share and Rs 20 more than one third of B’s share and Rs 5 more than one
third of C’s share are equal . what is A’s share of money ( in Rs)?
(1) 120

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 Ratio and Proportion

(2) 270
(3) 285
(4) 225
(5) None of these

15. If A:B= 2:3, B:C= 3:5 , C:D= 4:5,then A:B:C:D is?

(1) 8:12:20:25
(2) 4:3:5:25
(3) 8:12:4:5
(4) 2:4:6:25
(5) None of these

16.A,B and C hire a video for Rs 1200. They use it for10,12 and 18 hours respectively. If
the hiring charges of the video are to be contributed by them in the proportion of hours of
their use, what is the share of B?
(1)Rs 360
(2)Rs 300
(3)Rs 540
(4)Rs 400
(5)None of these

17.The incomes of A and B are in the ratio 3:2, while their expenditures are in the ratio 3:1.
If each of them saves Rs 1500 , what is A’s income?
(1)Rs 2400
(2)Rs 1500 \
(3)Rs 1800
(4)Rs 5000
(5)None of these

18.The monthly incomes of A,B and C are in the ratio 3: 4:5 while their savings are in the
ratio of 1:2:3 . If the savings of A are Rs 600 per month, equivalent to 10% of his
income,how much does C spend per month (in rupees)?
(1)8200
(2)6600
(3)9000
(4)7500
(5)None of these

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 Ratio and Proportion

19.Rs 336 is divided between A and B so that A gets 5/16th of what B gets. What amount
does A get?
(1)Rs 75
(2)Rs 80
(3)Rs 100
(4)Rs 105
(5)None of these

20.Rs 150 is divided so that A gets Rs 30 more than B and B gets twice as much as C .
What amount does C get?
(1)Rs 20
(2)Rs 24
(3)Rs 30
(4)Rs 25
(5)None of these

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