Word Problems Involving Writing a Ratio

Word problems are used to learn the lessons better.
A ratio is used to compare two numbers and it is written in several ways.

• Writing it as a fraction is the most commonplace method. For example \(\frac{4}{9}\)
• Writing it using the word “to” as in 5 to 8.
• Writing it using a colon in between the two numbers, 7:14.

Word Problems Involving Writing a Ratio – Examples 1

There are 35 history books and 14 novels in Leo’s library. What is the ratio of the number of history books to the number of novels?
Solution:
Step 1: Write the number of history books. They are 35.
Step 2: Write the number of novels. They are 14.
Step 3: Write them as a ratio. 35:14.

Word Problems Involving Writing a Ratio – Examples 2

Mason makes pasta with peas. For 4 cups of pasta, he used 1 cup of peas. What is the ratio of pasta to peas?
Step 1: Write the number of cups of pasta. They are 2.
Step 2: Write the number of cups of peas. They are 1.
Step 3: Write them as a ratio. 2:1.