BRIDGE MATHEMATICS 1 (BM 101-A) FACULTY OF EDUCATION

UPOU UGNAYAN NG PAHINUNGOD

MODULE 3: RATIO AND PROPORTION

Meet Your Target

At the end of the module, each Bridge Math

participant will be able to:

•explain the concept of ratio and proportion

•apply properties of ratio and proportion;

•solve problems involving ratio and

proportion

Activate the Mind

Have you every seen a set of Matryoshka

Russian dolls?

The Matryoshka Russian Dolls are sets of

wooden dolls that are decreasing in size.
Each doll looks the same as the others but
di ers only in size.

When two objects have the same features

but di er in size, we call them similar.

This module is a review on ratios and

proportions which are important concepts
in mathematics. With an adequate
understanding of these concepts, you can
solve a wide variety of problems where
relationships between quantities are key
aspects of problem solving. The main goal
of this module is to refresh your knowledge
of ratios and proportions, and introduce you
to applications of these concepts in
solving mathematical problems.

Image source: https://www.cambridgemaths.org/blogs/

geometry-research-russian-dolls/

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 BRIDGE MATHEMATICS 1 (BM 101-A) FACULTY OF EDUCATION

UPOU UGNAYAN NG PAHINUNGOD

DEFINITION OF RATIO AND PROPORTION

a
The ratio of two quantities, a and b, is the number where b ≠ 0. The ratio of a to b can also
b
be expressed as a: b.

A proportion is an equality between two ratios. It is represented in symbols as

a x
=

b y
where b ≠ 0 and y ≠ 0.

The numbers a,  b,  x an d y are called the terms of the proportion. The terms b and x are
called means, while a and y are called extremes.

means

extremes

TOPIC 1: PROPERTIES OF RATIO AND PROPORTION

PROPERTY 1. THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF PROPORTION

The product of the means is equal to the product of the extremes.

Thus, if a: b = x : y, then

ay = bx

Exercise 1: Find the value of the variable in each proportion.


5 60 x+6 x+4
a) = c) =
6 x x−3 x
16 8 2 x
b) = d) =
20 x+1 x 6
x 2
e) = 

6 12

SOLUTION:
5 60
a) =
6 x
5(x) = 6(60) Fundamental Principle of Proportion

5x = 360 Simplified
5x 360
= Divide both sides by 5
5 5
x = 72 Simplified

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 BRIDGE MATHEMATICS 1 (BM 101-A) FACULTY OF EDUCATION

UPOU UGNAYAN NG PAHINUNGOD

16 8
b) =
20 x +1
16(x + 1) = 20(8) Fundamental Principle of Proportion

16x + 16 = 160 Distributive Property of Equality

16x = 160 − 16 By transposition
16x = 144 Simplified by subtraction
16x 144 Divide both sides by 16
=
16 16
x =9 Simplified

x +6 x+4
c) =
x−3 x
(x + 6)(x) = (x − 3)(x + 4)
Fundamental Principle of Proportion

x 2 + 6x = x 2 + x − 12 Distributive Property of Equality

x 2 − x 2 + 6x − x = − 12 By transposition
5x = − 12 Simplified by subtraction
5x −12
= Divide both sides by 5
5 5
12
x =− Simplified
5

2 x
d) =
x 6
2(6) = x (x) Fundamental Principle of Proportion

12 = x 2 Simplified

x =± 12 or ± 2 3 Extracting the square roots

x 2
e) =
6 12
x (12) = 6(2) Fundamental Principle of Proportion

12x = 12 Simplified by multiplication

12x 12
= Divide both sides by 12
12 12
x =1 Simplified

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 BRIDGE MATHEMATICS 1 (BM 101-A) FACULTY OF EDUCATION

UPOU UGNAYAN NG PAHINUNGOD

PROPERTY 2. MEANS OR EXTREMES EXCHANGING PROPERTY

a c d c a b
If = is a proportion, then = and = .
b d b d c d

Example:
3 9 15 9
If = is a proportion, then = is also a proportion.

5 15 5 3
3 9 9 15
If = is a proportion, then = is also a proportion.

5 15 3 5

PROPERTY 3. UPSIDE-DOWN PROPERTY

a c b d
If = is a proportion, then = .

b d a c

Example:
3 9 5 15
If = is a proportion, then = is also a proportion.

5 15 3 9

PROPERTY 4. DENOMINATOR ADDITION/SUBTRACTION PROPERTY

a c a+b c+d a−b c−d

If = is a proportion, then = or =

b d b d b d

Example:
3 9 3+5 9 + 15 8 24
If = is a proportion, then = ⇒ = is also a
5 15 5 15 5 15
proportion.

3 9 3−5 9 − 15 −2 −6
If = is a proportion, then = ⇒ = is also a
5 15 5 15 5 15
proportion.

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 BRIDGE MATHEMATICS 1 (BM 101-A) FACULTY OF EDUCATION

UPOU UGNAYAN NG PAHINUNGOD

Exercise 2: Determine whether each equation is true.

a x a 1
a) If = , then = .
10 20 x 2
a x 3 4
b) If = , then = .
3 4 a+3 x+4
a 5 a+5 x+5
c) If = , then = .
x 4 5 4

SOLUTION:
a x a 1
a) If = , then = .
10 20 x 2
a 10
By Extremes Exchanging Property, = . Simplifying the right-hand side,
x 20
a 1
= .
x 2
Thus, the statement is true.

a x 3 4
b) If = , then = .
3 4 a+3 x+4
a+3 x+4
Using the denominator addition property, =
3 4
3 4
By Upside-Down Property, = .
a+3 x+4
Thus, the statement is true.

a 5 a+5 x+5
c) If = , then = .
x 4 5 4
a x
Using the Extremes Exchanging Property, =
5 4
a+5 x+4
Using the denominator addition property, = .
5 4
Thus, the statement is false.

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 BRIDGE MATHEMATICS 1 (BM 101-A) FACULTY OF EDUCATION

UPOU UGNAYAN NG PAHINUNGOD

PROPERTY 5. GEOMETRIC MEAN

The positive number x is the geometric mean between the positive numbers

a and b if and only if

a x
=
x b
Then,

x= ab

Proof:
a x
= Given

x b
a b = x 2 Fundamental Principle of Proportion

x = a b Extracting square roots

Exercise 3: Find the geometric mean of each pair of numbers.


a) 3 and 27 c) 10 and 20
b) 6 and 2 d) 2 and 18


SOLUTION:
a) 3 and 27
Let x = geometric mean

x= 3(27) = 81 = 9

b) 6 and 2
Let x = geometric mean

x= 6(2) = 12 = 2 3

c) 10 and 20
Let x = geometric mean

x= 10(20) = 200 = 100(2) = 10 2

d) 2 and 18
Let x = geometric mean

x= 2(18) = 36 = 6

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BRIDGE MATHEMATICS 1 (BM 101-A) FACULTY OF EDUCATION

UPOU UGNAYAN NG PAHINUNGOD

Links to Resource Material:

Working with Decimals,
Percents, and Ratios
https://www.universalclass.com/
articles/math/pre-algebra/working-
with-decimals-percents-and-
ratios.htm

Ratio and Proportion

Questions & Word
Problems
https://www.mbacrystalball.com/
blog/2015/08/28/ratio-proportion-
problems/

TOPIC 2: PROBLEM SOLVING INVOLVING RATIO AND PROPORTION

Problem 1: Find the fourth term in a proportion if the rst three terms are 12, 17, and 36,
respectively.

Solution:
Let x = fourth term of the proportion. So,

12 36
=

17 x
Solving for x,

12x = 612 Cross-product property of a proportion

x = 51 Divide both sides by 12.

The fourth term in the series 12, 17, and 36 is 51.

Problem 2: A segment that is 150 cm long is divided into three parts in the ratio 2 : 3 : 5. How
long is each part?

Solution:
Let x = representation of each part. So,

2x + 3x + 5x = 150

Solving for x,

2x + 3x + 5x = 150 Equation

10x = 150 Combining like terms.

x = 15 Dividing both sides by 10

Solving for the length of each part,

2x = 2 (15 cm) = 30 cm
3x = 3 (15 cm) = 45 cm
5x = 5 (15 cm) = 75 cm

The segments are 30 cm, 45 cm, and 75 cm long.

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Problem 3: The ratio of the angles of a triangle is 3:5:7. Find the measure of each angle.

Solution:
Let x = representation of part. So,

3x + 5x + 7x = 180∘

Solving for x,

3x + 5x + 7x = 180∘ Equation

15x = 180∘ Combine like terms.

∘
x = 12 Divide both sides by 15.

Solving for each angle,

3x = 3(12∘) = 36∘

5x = 5(12∘) = 60∘

7x = 7(12∘) = 84∘

The angles measure 36∘,60∘, a n d 84∘.

Problem 4: Two triangles are similar with a scale factor of 2:3. If the perimeter of the smaller
triangle is 60 meters, what is the perimeter of the larger triangle?

Note: The ratio of the perimeters of two similar polygons is equal to the scale factor.

Solution:
Let x = perimeter of the larger triangle. So,
2 60
=
3 x
Solving for x,

2 60
= Equation

3 x
2x = 180 Cross-product property of a proportion

x = 90 Divide both sides by 2

The perimeter of the larger triangle is 90 meters.

Link to YouTube Video:

Proportions | Solving Proportions with Variables
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT8tGc-SwKk

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 BRIDGE MATHEMATICS 1 (BM 101-A) FACULTY OF EDUCATION

UPOU UGNAYAN NG PAHINUNGOD

Try This

Practice more on equivalent ratios by playing the online

game, Ratio Stadium. You can also practice on solving
variables on proportions by playing Dirt Bike. Both games
are launched by Arcademics. You can either scan the QR
code or click the link.

Link to Online Game Ratio Stadium by Academics:

https://www.arcademics.com/games/ratio-stadium

Link to Online Game Dirt Bike by Arcademics:

https://www.arcademics.com/games/dirt-bike-proportions

References

Books:

Bernabe, J. G., Dilao, S. J., & Quiming, R. S. (2014). Our world of math 9. Vibal Group, Inc.

Bernal, J. S., & Lopez, A. G. (2014). K to 12 conceptual math and beyond 9. Brilliant Creations
Publishing, Inc.

Department of Education (2014). Mathematics 9 learner’s material.

Marasigan, M. M. M., & Uy, A. D. (2011). Next generation math III. Diwa Learning Systems Inc.

Oronce, O.A., & Mendoza, M. O. (2015). E-math: Worktext in mathematics 9. Rex Book Store.

Singapore Asia Publishers (2014). Synergy for success in mathematics grade 9.

Webpages:

Universal Class (n. d.). Working with decimals, percents, and ratios. https://
www.universalclass.com/articles/math/pre-algebra/working-with-decimals-percents-and-
ratios.htm

MBA Crystall Ball (2021, July 23). Ratio and proportion questions & word problems | GMAT
GRE maths. https://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2015/08/28/ratio-proportion-
problems/

Bridge Mathematics Course Module designed by LGV Pondara | Module 3

Faculty of Education, UP Open University (2022) | Page 33

BRIDGE MATHEMATICS 1 (BM 101-A) FACULTY OF EDUCATION

UPOU UGNAYAN NG PAHINUNGOD

Videos:

Math with Mr. J. (2020, May 11). Proportions | Solving proportions with variables [Video].
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT8tGc-SwKk

Online Games:

https://www.arcademics.com/games/ratio-stadium

https://www.arcademics.com/games/ratio-stadium

-END OF MODULE 3-

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