RATIO AND

PROPORTION
Ratio – a comparison between two numbers or quantities.

Proportion – an equation that shows two ratios are equivalent.

For example:

The ratio of female to male presidents of the Philippines can

be expressed in different forms:
2
2 : 13 (colon form) (fraction form)
13

2 ÷ 13 (division form) 2 to 13 (phrase form)

 2 6
The equation 2 : 13 = 6 : 39 or 13 = 39
is a proportion.

In the given proportion, 13 and 6 are called means;

2 and 39 are the extremes.

2 : 13 = 6 : 39
means
extremes
PROPERTIES OF PROPORTIONS
𝑎 𝑐
Given = where 𝑏 ≠ 0 and d ≠ 0.
𝑏 𝑑

1. Fundamental Law of Proportion:

The product of the extremes is equal to the product of the

means.

That is 𝑎𝑑 = 𝑑𝑐.
𝑎 𝑏 𝑎+𝑏 𝑐+𝑑
2. = 4. =
𝑐 𝑑 𝑏 𝑑

𝑑 𝑏 𝑎−𝑏 𝑐−𝑑
3. = 5. =
𝑐 𝑎 𝑏 𝑑
Example 1:
2 6
Given 3 = 9
𝑎 = 2, 𝑏 = 3, 𝑐 = 6, 𝑑 = 9

1. The product of the extremes (2 ∙ 9 = 18) is equal to the product of

the means (3 ∙ 6 = 18).
𝑎 𝑏 2 3
2. = → = → 18 = 18
𝑐 𝑑 6 9
𝑑 𝑏 9 3
3. = → = → 18 = 18
𝑐 𝑎 6 2
𝑎+𝑏 𝑐+𝑑 2 +3 6+9 5 15
4. 𝑏
= 𝑑
→ 3
= 9
→ 3
= 9
→ 45 = 45
𝑎−𝑏 𝑐−𝑑 2−3 6−9 −1 −3
5. = → = → = → -9 = -9
𝑏 𝑑 3 9 3 9
Example 2:

𝑥 4
Use the proportion = to complete each statement.
𝑦 9

𝑥+𝑦
a. 4y = _____ c. 𝑦
= _______________

𝑥 9
b. = _____ d. = _____
4 4
Example 3:

Find the value of the variable in each of the following:

𝑥 15 8 𝑗
a. = b. =
8 24 𝑗 2

Solution: Solution:

𝑥 24 = 8(15) 8 2 =𝑗 𝑗

24𝑥 = 120 16 = 𝑗 2

24𝑥 120
= 16 = 𝑗2
24 24

𝒙=𝟓 𝒋=𝟒
 𝑏 6 𝑔+3 56
c. = d. =
10 5 𝑔−2 21

Solution: Solution:

𝑏 5 = 10(6) 21 𝑔 + 3 = 56 𝑔 − 2

5𝑏 = 60 21𝑔 + 63 = 56𝑔 − 112

5𝑏 60
= 21𝑔 − 56𝑔 = −112 − 63
5 5

𝒃 = 𝟏𝟐 −35𝑔 = −175
−35𝑔 −175
=
−35 −35

𝒈=𝟓
EXERCISE NO. 1

A. Identify the means and extremes.

4 12 𝑦 3
1. = 4. =
5 15 10 −𝑦 8

3 15
2. 6:9 = 4:6 5. =
7 35

3. 18 : x = 4 : 5
 𝑝 7
B. Use the proportion = to complete each
𝑞 11

statement:
𝑞
a. 11𝑝 = _____ c. = _____
𝑝

11 𝑝 − 𝑞
b. = _____ d. = _____
𝑞 𝑞
C. Find the value of the variable in each of the following:

18 3 𝑚2 𝑚
1. = 4. =
𝑐 5 6 3

12 𝑓 ℎ −1 3
2. = 5. =
32 8 ℎ+2 4

6 36
3. =
𝑑 42