RATIO
Ratio:
a
The ratio of two quantities a and b is the fraction and is written as a : b. Here ‘a' is the first term or antecedent
b
and ‘b’ is the second term or consequent. It is always expressed in the same units.
3
Example: The ratio 3:4 is the same as , where 3 is the antecedent and 4 is the consequent.
4
Note: Multiplication or division of each term of a ratio by the same non-zero number does not affect the ratio.
Example: 2:3 = 6:9 = 8:12 Also, 40:20 = 20:10 = 10:5
Comparison of Two or More Ratios
Two or more ratios may be compared by reducing the equivalent fractions to a common denominator and then
comparing the magnitudes of their numerator. Thus, suppose 2 : 5, 4 : 3 and 4 : 5 are three ratios to be compared
2 4 4
then the fractions , and are reduced are equivalent fractions with a common denominator. For this the
5 3 5
denominator of each is changed to 15 equal to the L.C.M. their denominators.
6 20 12
Hence the given ratios are expressed , and or 2 : 5, 4 : 3, 4 : 5 according to magnitude.
15 15 15
Proportion:
a c
The equality of two ratios is called proportion. If = then a, b, c and d are said to be in Proportion.
b d
i.e., a : b = c : d and is read as ‘a is to b is as c is to d’. If a, b, c and d are in proportion then ‘a’ and 'd’ are called
the Extreme terms and ‘b’ and ‘c’ are called the Mean terms and product of the Extremes = product of the
Means. i.e., a x d = b x c
Continued Proportions:
1. Third (Mean) Proportional: when a : b = b : c, in other words, as the denominator ‘b’ continues and
becomes the numerator of the second fraction; a, b and c are said to be in continued proportion and b2 =
ac, the number ‘b’ is called as the geometric mean (mean proportional) of a and c.
Example 1: The third proportional to 5 and 25 is given by 5: 25: 25: X
25 × 25
X= = 125
5
Example 2: The mean proportional between 4 and 16 is given by 4 : X : X : 16
X2 = 64 X = 8
bc
2. Fourth Proportional: If a: b = c: d, then d is called the fourth proportional to a, b, c. Here, d =
a
Example: The fourth proportional of 3, 5 and 9 is given by 3: 5: 9: x
9
x = 5 × = 15
3
1
Laws of Proportion:
a c
If = , then
b d
a b
o Alternendo Law =
c d
b d
o Invertendo Law =
a c
a + b c + d
o Componendo Law =
b d
a b c d
o Dividendo Law =
b d
a + b c + d
o Componendo – Dividendo Law =
a b c d
Properties of Proportion:
a c e
If = = = k, then
b d f
a + c + e
=k
b + d + f
pan + qcn + ren
if p, q, r are the real numbers, then = kn
pbn + qdn + rf n
a a + x
< for a < b
b b + x
Exercise
1. Two numbers are in the ratio of 1 : 2. If 7 is added to both, then their ratio changes to 3 : 5. Find the greatest
number.
a] 24 b] 26 c] 28 d] 32 e] None of these
2. If a packet containing a dozen glasses is dropped, which of the following cannot be the ratio of broken
glasses to unbroken glasses?
a] 3 : 1 b] 6 : 1 c] 4 : 2 d] 5 : 7 e] 1 : 5
3. Two whole numbers whose sum is 64 cannot be in the ratio:
a] 5 : 3 b] 7 : 1 c] 3 : 4 d] 9 : 7 e] None of these
4. If x : y = 7 : 9 and y : z = 5 : 4, then x : y : z is:
a] 7 : 45 : 36 b] 35 : 45 : 36 c] 28 : 36 : 35
d] None of these e] Cannot determine
2
5. If 2x = 3y = 4z, then x : y : z is:
a] 2 : 3 : 4 b] 4 : 3 : 2 c] 6 : 4 : 3 d] 3 : 4 : 2 e] None of these
6. The fourth proportional to 5, 6 and 150 is:
a] 30 b] 125 c] 180 d] 120 e] 135
7. What must be added to the numbers 6, 10, 14 and 22, so that they become proportional?
a] 2 b] 3 c] 4 d] 6 e] None of these
8. If a 13 meter long iron rod weighs 23.4 kg, then what will be the weight of 6 meter long iron rod?
a] 7.5 kg b] 12.4 kg c] 10.8 kg d] 18 kg e] None of these
9. The ratio of two number is 3 : 8 and their difference is 115. The greater number is:
a] 69 b] 115 c] 184 d] 230 e] 240
2 5
10. The sum of three numbers A, B and C is 98. If A : B = and B : C = , then B is:
3 8
a] 15 b] 20 c] 30 d] 32 e] 45
1 1 3
11. The marks obtained by Suresh in English, Mathematics and Science are in the ratio : : . If his total
2 3 5
score is 860, his marks in English is:
a] 160 b] 300 c] 228 d] 312 e] None of these
12. Two numbers are such that their difference, their sum and their product are in the ratio of 1 : 7 : 24. The
product of the numbers are
a] 6 b] 12 c] 24 d] 48 e] 36
a 2 b 4 a + b
13. If = and = , then is equal to:
b 3 c 5 b + c
a] 8 : 15 b] 20 : 27 c] 3 : 4 d] 27 : 20 e] 13 : 20
14. There is ratio of 5 : 4 between two numbers. If 40 per cent of the first number is 12, then what would be 50
per cent of the second number?
a] 12 b] 24 c] 18
d] None of these e] Data inadequate
3
15. A map is drawn on the scale of 4 mm for each 16 km. Two places are shown on the map at the distance of
7.2 mm. How far away they are from each other?
a] 22.3 km b] 9.21 km c] 28.8 km d] 21.8 km e] 25.4 km
16. If X and Y shared ` 1100 in the ratio 1 : 10, how much did X get?
a] ` 99 b] ` 100 c] ` 101 d] ` 110 e] None of these
