what is a ratio Related: More about Ratios-Some Examples - Ratio and ...
In certain circumstances, the comparison by the process of division makes good sense when compared to performing their difference. Hence the comparison of two quantities by the process of division method is called as ‘Ratio’ between two numbers.
The two numbers in a ratio can only be compared when they have the same unit. We make use of ratios to compare two things. The sign used to denote a ratio is ‘:‘.
A ratio can be written as a fraction, say 25. Or can write it by using “to,” as “2 to 5.”We happen to see various comparisons or say ratios in our daily life.
Ratio and proportions are said to be faces of the same coin. When two ratios are equal in value, then they are said to be in proportion. In simple words, it compares two ratios. Proportions are denoted by the symbol ‘::’ or ‘=’.
Let us assume that, in proportion, the two ratios are a:b & c:d. The two terms ‘b’ and ‘c’ are called as ‘means or mean term,’ whereas the terms ‘a’ and ‘d’ are known as ‘extremes or extreme terms.’
a/b = c/d or a : b :: c : d
et us consider one more example of a number of students in a classroom. Our first ratio of number of girls to boys is 3:5 and that of the other is 4:8, then the proportion can be written as
3 : 5 :: 4 : 8 or 3/5 = 4/8
Here 3 & 8 are the extremes, while 5 & 4 are the means.