{{ 'ml-label-loading-course' | message }}
{{ toc.name }}
{{ toc.signature }}
{{ tocHeader }} {{ 'ml-btn-view-details' | message }}
{{ tocSubheader }}
{{ 'ml-toc-proceed-mlc' | message }}
{{ 'ml-toc-proceed-tbs' | message }}
Lesson
Exercises
Recommended
Tests
An error ocurred, try again later!
Chapter {{ article.chapter.number }}
{{ article.number }}. 

{{ article.displayTitle }}

{{ article.intro.summary }}
Show less Show more expand_more
{{ ability.description }} {{ ability.displayTitle }}
Lesson Settings & Tools
{{ 'ml-lesson-number-slides' | message : article.intro.bblockCount }}
{{ 'ml-lesson-number-exercises' | message : article.intro.exerciseCount }}
{{ 'ml-lesson-time-estimation' | message }}
 Using Ratios and Solving Proportions
Concept

Proportion

A proportion is an equation showing the equivalence of two ratios, or fractions, with different numerators and denominators. a/b = c/d or a:b=c:d The first and last numbers in the proportion are called the extremes, while the other two numbers are called the means. ↓ a0.75em extremes means : ↑ b= ↑ c:↓ d

In a proportion, by the Cross Products Property, the product of the extremes is equal to the product of the means.

If a b= c d, then ad= bc.

As an example of proportionality, consider slices of pizza. Depending on the number of times it has been sliced, the same amount of pizza could be cut into 1, 2, or 4 pieces.
In this case, one-third of a pizza is the same amount of pizza as two-sixths or four-twelfths. If the simplified forms of two fractions are equal, then they are said to be proportional. For example, one-third is proportional to two-sixths and four-twelfths.

Note that proportions are often used in geometric concepts such as the Triangle Proportionality Theorem or when determining if two figures are similar.

Loading content