Ratio and Proportion Cheat Sheet

1. Writing a Ratio:
a. The quantity written first is the numerator
b. The word “to” separates the quantities
c. The quantity written second is the denominator
d. Always write in lowest terms, and always as a fraction
Example: Write the ratio of 60 days of sun to 20 days of rain.

÷2

60 30 3
= = leave as a fraction
20 10 1

÷ 10

e. Ratios are written with LIKE terms

Example: 2 days to 8 hours
*2 days = 48 hours
÷8

48 6
=
8 1

2. Using Mixed Numbers in Ratios:

a. Write out the ratio
b. Write numbers as improper fractions
c. Rewrite the problem horizontally, using the ÷ symbol
d. Change the ÷ to × and flip the second term

1
Example: 2 days to 24 days

2
2 2 9 2 9 8
=1= ÷ = × = lowest terms
1 9
24 4 1 4 1 4 9

3. Writing Rates:
*Units are not the same and need to be included as part of the rate*
a. Write the rate as a fraction in lowest terms

Example: 160 dollars for 8 hours

160 𝑑𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑠 20 𝑑𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑠

=
8 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟
4. Finding Unit Rates:
*Denominator is 1*
a. Write the rate as a fraction
b. Divide top number by the bottom number

Example: $810 in 6 days

135
$810 $135/day
6 810
6 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 -6
21 use “per” or “/” to write unit rates
-18
30
-30
0

5. Finding the Best Buy:

*The best buy is the item with the lowest cost per unit*
a. Divide the total price by the number of units
b. Round to the thousandths if necessary
c. Compare to find the lowest cost per unit

Example: Find the best buy for cereal.

12 ounces for $2.49
14 ounces for $2.89

0.2075 0.20642
12 2.49 _ _ 14 2.89_ _ _
-2.4 -2.8
09 09
-0 -0
90 90
-84 -84
60 60
-60 -56
0 40
-28
12

$0.2064/oz
*best buy
6. Finding Best Buy with Coupons:
a. Take discount from coupon off total price
b. Divide new total price by the number of units
c. Compare to find the lowest cost per unit

Example: Find the best buy on grapes. You have a coupon for $0.50 off 2 pounds, or
$0.75 off 3 pounds.
2 pounds for $2.75 - $0.50 coupon = $2.25
3 pounds for $4.15 - $0.75 coupon = $3.40

1.125 0.2075
2 2.25_ 12 2.49 _ _
-2 -2.4
0.2 09
-2 -0
05 90
-4 -84
10 60
-10 -60
0 0

$1.125/lb
*best buy
7. Writing Proportions:
*A proportion states that two ratios are equal*
a. To write a proportion, write each ratio separately, with an equal symbol (=) in between.

Example: 5 is to 6 as 25 is to 30

5 25
=
6 30
b. To check if a proportion is correct, cross multiply. The two cross products should be
equal.

Example: 5 25
=
6 30

5 × 30 = 6 × 25 the products are equal

150 = 150 so the proportion is true
8. Solving the Proportion:
a. Cross multiply
b. Show that the cross products are equal
c. Divide both sides by the number touching “x”

Example: 12 6
=
𝑥 8

12 6
= cross multiply
𝑥 8

12 × 8 = 𝑥 × 6 cross products are equal

96 = 6𝑥

96 6𝑥 Divide both sides by 6 to get x by itself

=
6 6

16 = 𝑥 x is 16

d. To check your work, place your value for x in the proportion and multiply to see that the
cross products are equal
we found x=16
Example: 12 6
=
𝑥 8

12 6
= replace x with 16
16 8

12 × 8 = 16 × 6 cross multiply

96 = 96 cross products are equal