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CAT 2025 » CAT Study Material » Quantitative Ability (Mathematics) » Ratio and Proportion
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Ratio and Proportion

In this article we learn about the Differences and Similarities Between Ratio and Proportion, what is ratio and proportion, similarities of ratios and proportion, Differences of ratios and proportion, Ratio, Proportion, Important key points on Ratio and Proportion and more.

Table of Content
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Fractions are used to explain ratios and proportions. A ratio is formed whenever a fraction is written as a:b, while a proportion indicates that two ratios are equivalent. Any two integers can be used as a and b. The two fundamental principles of ratio and proportion serve as the foundation for many concepts in mathematics and science.

We apply the concept of ratio and proportion in our daily lives, such as in business whenever dealing with money or when cooking any cuisine, for instance. The notions of ratio and proportion might be perplexing for students at times.

Ratio

A ratio in mathematics shows how many times one number comprises another. For illustration, if a fruit plate has eight oranges and six lemons, the orange to lemon ratio is eight to six (that is, 8:6, which is equivalent to the ratio 4:3). In the same way, the ratio of lemons to oranges is 6:8 (or 3:4), while the ratio of oranges to overall fruit is 8:14. (or 4:7).

A ratio can have any number of numbers, including counts of people or objects, or measurements of lengths, weights, time, and so forth. In most cases, both numbers must be positive.

A ratio can be written as “a to b” or “a:b,” or as just the quotient value, a/b.

As a result, a ratio is an ordered set of integers, or the value expressed by this fraction, which is a fraction with the first value in the numerator and the second in the denominator. Ratios of counts stated as (non-zero) natural numbers can be both rational and natural numbers. Whenever two values are measured in the same dimension, as is common, the ratio is a dimensionless number. A rate is the quotient of two quantities which are measured in distinct units.

Proportion

Proportion is mostly discussed using ratios and fractions. A percentage implies that two ratios are equal and is expressed as a fraction in the form of ab. Any two integers can be used as a and b. The principles of ratio and proportion are crucial for knowing a wide range of math and science concepts. Proportion can be employed to solve a range of problems in daily life, such as in the kitchen or in business while dealing with transactions. It builds a relationship between two or more quantities, making comparison easier.

A part, share, or number assessed in comparison to a total is referred to as proportion in general. Whenever two ratios are equal, they are in proportion, according to the definition of proportion

Difference Between Ratio and Proportion

COMPARISON STANDARDS

RATIO

PROPORTION

Meaning

The comparison of two values of the equal unit is referred to as a ratio.

It is called proportion whenever two ratios are set to be equal.

What is it?


Expression

Equation

Denoted by

Colon (:) sign


Double Colon (::) or Equal to (=) sign

Represents

Two categories have a quantitative relationship.

A category’s quantitative relationship with the total

Keyword

‘To every’

‘Out of’

Similarities of ratios and proportion

A ratio is a comparison between two numbers. A proportion is defined when two ratios are equal. Establish if the ratio is part to part or part to whole before writing it down.

Important key points on Ratio and Proportion

  • Any two quantities which have the same units can be compared.
  • Only when two ratios are equal are they said to be in proportion.
  • We can also use the cross-product approach to estimate if two ratios are proportional and equal.
  • Whenever the term is multiplied and divided by the same number, the ratio remains the same. 
  • The three quantities are said to be in a continuous proportion when the ratio between the first and second amounts is the same as the ratio between the second and third. 
  • Likewise, the ratio between the first and second items in a continuous proportion is equivalent to the ratio between the third and fourth quantities.

Conclusion

A ratio is a comparison of two or more numbers which shows how they compare in terms of quantity. A dividend symbol (:) between two numbers represents a ratio of two separate quantities. A mathematical formula that indicates that two ratios are the same is called proportion. In contrast to ratios, that explain the relationship between two different numbers, proportions explain the relationship between two ratios. Knowing ratio and proportion is beneficial for a range of tasks, like interpreting food recipes, estimating relative distances on road trips, creating metal alloys, and combining multiple chemicals to manufacture products, to name a few.

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the CAT Examination Preparation.

Discuss about Direct Proportion?

Answer: Direct Proportion defines the direct link between two quantities. Generally said, when one quantity rises, s...Read full

Discuss about Inverse Proportion?

Answer:  The relationship between two quantities wherein one quantity increases while the other declines and vice v...Read full

Describe ratios in your own words.

Answer:  Ratios can be denoted as an a/...Read full

Discuss about the concept of ratios and proportion?

Answer: A ratio is a non-zero ordered pair of numbers denoted by the symbol a...Read full

Write the formula of proportion.

Answer:  The proportion formula is used if two ratios or fractions are equal. By dividing the provided values, we c...Read full

Answer: Direct Proportion defines the direct link between two quantities. Generally said, when one quantity rises, so does the other, and vice versa. Whenever a car’s speed is raised, for instance, it covers more distance in a given length of time. The direct proportion is expressed as y ∝x in notation.

Answer:  The relationship between two quantities wherein one quantity increases while the other declines and vice versa is referred as inverse proportion. Inverse proportions are therefore expressed as y∝1/x. A car, for instance, will traverse a fixed distance in less time as its speed is increased.

Answer:  Ratios can be denoted as an a/b or an a:b.

Answer: A ratio is a non-zero ordered pair of numbers denoted by the symbol ab..A proportion is a mathematical representation expressing the equality of two ratios. For example, if there is one boy and three girls, the ratio might be 1: 3.

Answer:  The proportion formula is used if two ratios or fractions are equal. By dividing the provided values, we can find the missing value. The proportion formula is as follows: b::c:d = a/b = c/d.

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