Proportion Word Problems

Front

What is a proportion?

Back

A proportion is an equation that states that two ratios are equal.

Front

How do you set up a proportion for a word problem?

Back

Identify the two quantities being compared, write them as a ratio, and set them equal to each other.

Front

What is the cross-multiplication method?

Back

Cross-multiplication is a method used to solve proportions by multiplying the numerator of one ratio by the denominator of the other ratio.

Front

If 5 apples cost $2, how much do 15 apples cost?

Back

$6 (Set up the proportion: 5/2 = 15/x, cross-multiply to find x).

Front

What does it mean if two ratios are equivalent?

Back

It means that they represent the same relationship between two quantities.

Front

How can you find an unknown in a proportion?

Back

You can find an unknown by cross-multiplying and solving for the variable.

Front

What is a ratio?

Back

A ratio is a comparison of two quantities, showing how many times one value contains or is contained within the other.

Front

If the ratio of boys to girls in a class is 3:4 and there are 12 boys, how many girls are there?

Back

16 girls (Set up the proportion: 3/4 = 12/g, cross-multiply to find g).

Front

What is the unit rate?

Back

The unit rate is a comparison of two different quantities when they are combined together, expressed as a quantity of one.

Front

How do you solve a word problem involving time and work?

Back

Identify the rate of work, set up a proportion based on time and work done, and solve for the unknown.