Mathematics Grade 8
W1 - Lesson 2: Working with Ratios and
Rates
V6-10
Important Concepts of Grade 8 Mathematics Materials
W1 - Lesson 1...................................................Perfect Squares and Square Roots Required
W1 - Lesson 2....................................................... Working with Ratios and Rates
W1 - Lesson 3................................................ Multiplying and Dividing Fractions Protractor
W1 - Lesson 4.................................................. Multiplying and Dividing Integers Ruler
W1 - Lesson 5..................................................................... Working with Percents Calculator
W1 - Review
W1 - Quiz
No Textbook
W2 - Lesson 1...... Modelling and Solving Linear Equations Using Algebra Tiles Required
W2 - Lesson 2................................................................. Solving Linear Equations
W2 - Lesson 3......................................Graphing and Analyzing Linear Relations This is a stand-
alone course.
W2 - Lesson 4............................................ Critiquing the Representation of Data
W2 - Lesson 5.................................................. Probability of Independent Events
W2 - Review
W2 - Quiz
W3 - Lesson 1...................................................................... Pythagorean Theorem
W3 - Lesson 2..................................................................Calculating Surface Area
W3 - Lesson 3...........................................................................Calculating Volume
W3 - Lesson 4.........................................................................Drawing 3-D Objects
W3 - Lesson 5.................................................................... Congruence of Polygons
W3 - Review
W3 - Quiz
Mathematics Grade 8
Version 6
Preview/Review W1 - Lesson 2
ISBN 1-891894-00-6
Publisher: Alberta Distance Learning Centre
Written by: Monica dHamrait
Reviewed by: Patty Rogerson
Project Coordinator: Donna Silgard
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Preview/Review Concepts
for
Grade Eight Mathematics
W1 – Lesson 2:
Working with Ratios and
Rates
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
• Express a two-term ratio in different forms
• Express a three-term ratio in different forms
• Express a part-to-part ratio as a part-to-whole ratio
• Express a ratio as a percent
• Solve problems involving ratios
• Solve problems involving rates and unit rates
GLOSSARY
Ratio – a comparison of two or more
values using the same units.
Part-to-part ratio – a ratio that
compares one part of a collection to
another part of a collection.
Part-to-whole ratio – a ratio that
compares a part of a collection to the
entire collection.
Rate – a comparison of amounts or
measurements using different units.
Unit Rate – a rate with the second term
being 1.
Preview/Review Concepts W1 - Lesson 2 Mathematics Grade 8
W1 – Lesson 2: Perfect Squares and Square Roots
Materials required:
• Paper, Pencil, and Calculator
Part 1: Ratios and Equivalent Ratios
A ratio is a comparison of two or more values that both use the same units. For example, a
ratio can be used to compare different types of flowers in the garden or different colours of
jellybeans in a candy jar.
Ratios can be expressed as two term ratios, such as 2 : 5 or 2 to 5. They can also be
expressed as three term ratios, such as 1 : 3 : 7 or 1 to 3 to 7.
Example 1
Marshall plants the following flowers in his garden.
a. Write the ratio of roses to tulips
number of roses : number of tulips
The ratio can be expressed as 7 : 3 or as 7 to 3.
Since the ratio compares the number of roses to the number of tulips, the first term in
the ratio must represent the number of roses and the second term must represent the
number of tulips. A ratio that compares the number of roses to the number of tulips will
be different from a ratio that compares the number of tulips to the number of roses.
The ratio of tulips to roses
would be 3 : 7 or 3 to 7.
This is a part-to-part ratio as it compares only roses to only tulips.
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Mathematics Grade 8 Preview/Review Concepts W1 - Lesson 2
b. Write the ratio of tulips to all of the flowers in the garden.
number of tulips : total number of flowers
3 : 18
3 : 18
3 3
Simplify each ratio.
1:6
The ratio can be expressed as 1 : 6 or 1 to 6. Always express ratios in lowest
terms.
This ratio is called a part-to-whole ratio as it compares only tulips to all the
flowers in the garden.
c. Write a ratio that compares the number of tulips to daisies to roses.
number of tulips : number of daisies : number of roses
3 : 8 : 7
The ratio can be expressed as 3 : 8 : 7 or 3 to 8 to 7. Since none of the three
terms share a common factor, this ratio is already in lowest terms.
d. Express the number of daisies to the total number of flowers in the garden as a
percent.
A ratio can be expressed as a percent using a similar process of converting a
fraction into a percent. Express the ratio as a fraction, divide the numerator by
the denominator and multiply the result by 100.
number of daisies : total number of flowers
8 : 18
8 18
:
2 2
4 : 9
Express the ratio as a percent.
4
4:9 = = 4 ÷ 9 = 0.444...
9
Multiply the result by 100.
0.4444... × 100 = 44.4%
You can make equivalent ratios by multiplying or dividing each of the terms in a given
ratio by the same number.
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Preview/Review Concepts W1 - Lesson 2 Mathematics Grade 8
Example 2
Identify 2 equivalent ratios for the given ratio 8 : 12.
To identify the first equivalent ratio, you can multiply both terms in the ratio by the same
number. In this case, let’s multiply both terms in the ratio by 2.
8 : 12 ⇒ 8×2 : 12×2 ⇒ 16 : 24
To identify the second equivalent ratio, you can divide both terms in the ratio by a common
factor. In this case, let’s divide both terms in the ratio by 4.
8 : 12 ⇒ 8 ÷4 : 12÷4 ⇒ 2 : 3
Two equivalent ratios for 8 : 12 are 16 : 24 and 2 : 3.
Practice Questions
1. There are 104 students in the school. If there are 56 girls in the school, what is the
ratio of boys to girls? Express your answer in lowest terms.
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Mathematics Grade 8 Preview/Review Concepts W1 - Lesson 2
2. In a concrete mix, the ratio of sand to gravel is 3 : 5. To make 64 kg of concrete, how
much sand is needed?
3. Identify two equivalent ratios for the ratio 15 : 20.
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Preview/Review Concepts W1 - Lesson 2 Mathematics Grade 8
Part 2: Problem Solving with Ratios
When problem solving with ratios, always set up a proportion first. Then apply cross
products to solve for the unknown quantity
Example 1
An 18 m tree casts a 30 m shadow. How long is the shadow of a tree that is 27 m tall?
Step 1: Set up a proportion that represents the problem. Let x represent the unknown
quantity.
tree 18 27
⇒ =
shadow 30 x
Step 2: Apply cross products to get the answer.
18 27
=
30 x
(18)(x) = (30)(27)
18x = 810
18 x 810
=
18 18
x = 45
Example 2
A chainsaw requires fuel that is mixed in the ratio 0.2 L of oil to 1.6 L of gasoline. If 11.7
of fuel is needed, how much oil is required?
Step 1: Determine the part – to – whole ratio of oil to the total amount of ingredients in
the fuel.
oil : fuel
0.2 : 1.8
Step 2: Determine the amount of oil needed. Apply cross products to get the answer.
0.2 x
=
1.8 11.7
(1.8)(x) = (0.2)(11.7)
1.8x = 2.34
1.8 x 2.34
=
1.8 1.8
x = 1.3
The chainsaw requires 1.3L of oil to make the required amount of fuel.
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Mathematics Grade 8 Preview/Review Concepts W1 - Lesson 2
Practice Questions
1. The ratio of red cars to black cars in a parking lot is 3 : 8. If there are 243 red cars,
then how many black cars are there in the parking lot?
2. In order to make fruit punch for her party, Marguerite mixes 2 cans of fruit juice
with 5 cans of carbonated water. How much fruit punch will be made is she uses 10
cans of apple juice?
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Preview/Review Concepts W1 - Lesson 2 Mathematics Grade 8
Part 3: Working with Rates and Units Rates
A rate is a comparison of amounts of measurements that have different units. For
example, a baker advertises $5.00 for 3 loaves of bread. In this case, money is being
compared to the loaves of bread you can purchase. Rates are often expressed as unit rates,
in which the second term is 1. It tells you how many units of the first quantity correspond
to 1 unit of the second quantity. For example, Rosie was driving at 100 km/h or you pay
$2.50/kg for a bag of apples.
Example 1
Nathan can jog 850 m in 3 min. At this rate how far can he jog in 1 hour?
Step 1: Set up a proportion to represent the situation. Let x represent the unknown
quantity.
1 hour = 60 min
m 850 x
⇒ =
min 3 60
2 : 7
Step 2: Apply cross products to solve for the unknown quantity.
850 x
=
3 60
(3)(x) = (850)(60)
3x = 51 000
3x 51 000
=
3 3
x = 17 000
Nathan can jog 17 000 m in 1 hour.
Unit rates can be used to compare two situations to one another and determine which one
is more efficient.
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Mathematics Grade 8 Preview/Review Concepts W1 - Lesson 2
Example 2
Leslie travelled 630 km in 7 hours. Mark travelled 285 km in 3 hours. Who had the faster
rate of speed?
Express each rate as a unit rate.
630km
Leslie' speed : = 90 km / h
7 hours
285km
Mark' speed : = 95 km / h
3hours
Mark had the faster rate of speed.
Practice Questions
1. If 6 cupcakes cost $8.49, how much will 10 cupcakes cost?
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Preview/Review Concepts W1 - Lesson 2 Mathematics Grade 8
2. Which store has the best price for grapes? (Hint: Find the unit price per 100 g at
each store).
Example
Store A Store B Store C
$3.98 for 500 g $3.20 for 400 g $4.79 for 600 g
Store A Store B Store C
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Mathematics Grade 8 Preview/Review Concepts W1 - Lesson 2
Lesson 2: Assignment
1. Identify two equivalent ratios for each of the following ratios.
a. 24 : 36
b. 14 to 35
c. 16 :32 : 56
2. The ratio of the length of a rectangle to its width is 11 : 3. If the width is 12 cm,
what is the length of the rectangle?
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Preview/Review Concepts W1 - Lesson 2 Mathematics Grade 8
3. A building 21 m tall casts a shadow 16 m in length. How tall is a building that casts
a shadow 63 m long? Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a metre.
4. In an election Marci received 8 votes for every 5 that Judy received. If 7384 people
voted, how many votes did Marci get?
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Mathematics Grade 8 Preview/Review Concepts W1 - Lesson 2
5. Bill and Ted are two business partners who share their profits in a ratio of 6 : 5.
If they make a profit of $6 880.50, what is each partners share?
6. Grapefruits are on sale at 3 for $2.19. At this rate, how much would 8 grapefruits
cost?
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Preview/Review Concepts W1 - Lesson 2 Mathematics Grade 8
7. Linda scored 63 points in 4 basketball games. At this rate, approximately how
many points would she score in 11 games? Round your answer to the nearest whole
number.
8. Which of the following cereals is the best buy?
Example
Store A Store B Store C
$4.89 for 1.2 kg $7.38 for 1.8 kg $2.47 for 600 g
Store A Store B Store C
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Mathematics Grade 8 Preview/Review Concepts W1 - Lesson 2
9. Margo earned $53.50 for 5 hours of work. How much will she earn if she works 36
hours?
10. A car used 15 litres of gasoline to travel 300 km. At this rate, how many litres of
gasoline are needed to travel a distance of 1056 km?
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