USING TABLES TO COMPARE RATIOS

Example 1 : 

Anna’s recipe for lemonade calls for 2 cups of lemonade concentrate and 3 cups of water. Bailey’s recipe calls for 3 cups of lemonade concentrate and 5 cups of water. Whose recipe makes stronger lemonade? How do you know ?

Solution :

Anna’s recipe :

2 cups of lemonade and 3 cups of water.

So, the ratio is 2 : 3.

Let us write equivalent ratios to the ratio 2 : 3.

Bailey’s recipe :

3 cups of lemonade and 5 cups of water.

So, the ratio is 3 : 5.

Let us write equivalent ratios to the ratio 3 : 5.

Find two columns, one in each table, in which the amount of water is the same. Circle those two columns.

From the circled columns, we get two ratios. 

They are, 

10 : 15 and 9 : 15

In these two ratios, the second quantity (water) is same. 

So, we have to compare the first quantity (Lemonade).

The first quantity (10) in the first ratio is more than the first quantity (9) in the second ratio. 

When the quantity of water is same (15) in both recipes, Anna's recipe has more quantity of lemonade concentrate.

Therefore, Anna's recipe has stronger lemonade. 

Example 2 : 

Find which ratio is greater :

2 1/3 : 3 1/3 and 3.6 : 4.8

Solution :

If we want to compare two ratios using table, both the terms of the ratio must be integers. 

Let us convert the terms of the first ratio into integers. 

2 1/3  :  3  1/3  =  (7/3) : (10/3)

2 1/3  :  3  1/3  =  7 : 10 ------> multiplied by 3 

Let us write equivalent ratios to the ratio 7 : 10

Let us convert the terms of the second ratio into integers. 

3.6 : 4.8  =  36 : 48 ------> multiplied by 10 

3.6 : 4.8  =  3 : 4 ------> divided by 12 

Let us write equivalent ratios to the ratio 3 : 4

Find two columns, one in each table, in which the the second term is same. Circle those two columns.

From the circled columns, we get two ratios. 

They are, 

14 : 20 and 15 : 20

In these two ratios, the second term is same. 

So, we have to compare the first terms 14 and 15.

The first term in the second ratio (15) is more than the first term in the first ratio (14).

Therefore, the second ratio is greater than the first ratio.

That is, 3.6 : 4.8 is greater than 2 1/3 : 3 1/3.

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