The number ab associated with the ratio a:b is called the value of the ratio and describes the multiplicative relationship between the quantities in a ratio.
B
If we consider two quantities a and b, the ratio a:b indicates that there are a units of the first quantity for every b units of the second quantity.
A
Value: 4 Interpretation: The number of sunny days is 4 times the number of rainy days
B
5:1
Practice makes perfect
Recall that a ratio is a comparison of two quantities. If we consider two quantities a and b, the ratio a: b indicates that there are a units of the first quantity for every b units of the second quantity.
a/b or a: b
The number a b associated with the ratio a: b is called the value of the ratio and describes the multiplicative relationship between the quantities in a ratio. We are told that during a given month, the ratio of sunny days to rainy days is 4:1. Let's substitute a= 4 and b= 1 into the above expressions.
4: 1 → 4/1=4
This means that the number of sunny days is 4 times the number of rainy days.
Consider that in another month, the number of sunny days is 5 times the number of rainy days. To write this comparison as a ratio, remember that if we consider two quantities a and b, the ratio a: b indicates that there are a units of the first quantity for every b units of the second quantity.
a: b
In our case we have a= 5 sunny days and b= 1, because there are 5 sunny days for every 1 rainy day. This means that the ratio is 5: 1.
