Writing Ratios for Real World Situations

Ratios are used to compare quantities in quantitative terms in real world scenarios. A ratio can tell how big or small a quantity is as compared to another quantity.

Suppose there are 3 boys and 4 girls and we need to find the ratio of boys to girls. It is important in a ratio, to write the numbers in the correct order as stated in the question. i.e. boys to girls. Therefore, the ratio in correct order is 3:4 and not 4:3.

A ratio can also be used to compare three or more quantities at the same time. For example, the ratio 3:4:5:7 may represent the ratio of apples to oranges to melons to grapefruits.

A soccer team played 19 games and won 10. What is the ratio of the number of wins to the number of games played?

Solution

Step 1:

This is an example of ratios in a real-world scenario. The number of games played = 19; The number of wins = 10.

Step 2:

Then the ratio of number of wins to the number of games played = 10:19

On the high school chess team there are 5 girls and 8 boys. What is the ratio of girls to boys on the chess team?

Solution

Step 1:

This is another example of ratios in a real-world scenario. The number of girls in the chess team = 5; The number of boys in the chess team = 8.

Step 2:

Then the ratio of number of girls to the number of boys in the chess team is 5:8