2-6 Rates,

2-6 Rates,Ratios,
Ratios,and
andProportions
Proportions

Warm Up
Lesson Presentation
Lesson Quiz

Holt
Holt Algebra
Algebra 1
1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions

Warm Up
Solve each equation. Check your answer.
1. 6x = 36 6
2. 48
3. 5m = 18 3.6

4. –63

5. 8y =18.4 2.3
Multiply.

6. 7 7. 10

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions

Objectives
Write and use ratios, rates, and unit rates.
Write and solve proportions.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions

Vocabulary
ratio proportion
rate cross products
scale scale drawing
unit rate scale model
conversion factor

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions

A ratio is a comparison of two quantities by

division. The ratio of a to b can be written a:b
or , where b ≠ 0. Ratios that name the same
comparison are said to be equivalent.

A statement that two ratios are equivalent, such

as , is called a proportion.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions

Reading Math

Read the proportion as

“1 is to 15 as x is to 675”.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Example 1: Using Ratios
The ratio of the number of bones in a human’s
ears to the number of bones in the skull is 3:11.
There are 22 bones in the skull. How many
bones are in the ears?

Write a ratio comparing bones in ears

to bones in skull.
Write a proportion. Let x be the
number of bones in ears.
Since x is divided by 22, multiply
both sides of the equation by 22.

There are 6 bones in the ears.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Check It Out! Example 1
The ratio of games lost to games won for a
baseball team is 2:3. The team has won 18
games. How many games did the team lose?
Write a ratio comparing games lost to
games won.
Write a proportion. Let x be the
number of games lost.
Since x is divided by 18, multiply
both sides of the equation by 18.

The team lost 12 games.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions

A rate is a ratio of two quantities with different

units, such as Rates are usually written as
unit rates. A unit rate is a rate with a second
quantity of 1 unit, such as or 17 mi/gal. You
can convert any rate to a unit rate.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Example 2: Finding Unit Rates
Raulf Laue of Germany flipped a pancake 416
times in 120 seconds to set the world record.
Find the unit rate. Round your answer to the
nearest hundredth.

Write a proportion to find an equivalent

ratio with a second quantity of 1.
Divide on the left side to find x.

The unit rate is about 3.47 flips/s.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Check It Out! Example 2

Cory earns $52.50 in 7 hours. Find the unit

rate.

Write a proportion to find an equivalent

ratio with a second quantity of 1.
Divide on the left side to find x.

The unit rate is $7.50.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions

A rate such as in which the two quantities

are equal but use different units, is called a
conversion factor. To convert a rate from one
set of units to another, multiply by a conversion
factor.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Example 3A: Converting Rates
Serena ran a race at a rate of 10 kilometers
per hour. What was her speed in kilometers
per minute? Round your answer to the
nearest hundredth.

To convert the second quantity in a

rate, multiply by a conversion
factor with that unit in the first
quantity.

The rate is about 0.17 kilometer per minute.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions

Helpful Hint
In example 3A , “1 hr” appears to divide out,
leaving “kilometers per minute,” which are
the units asked for. Use this strategy of
“dividing out” units when converting rates.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Example 3B: Converting Rates
A cheetah can run at a rate of 60 miles per
hour in short bursts. What is this speed in
feet per minute?
Step 1
2 Convert the speed to feet per hour.
minute.
To convert the first quantity in a
rate, multiply by a conversion
factor with that unit in the second
first
quantity.

316,800
The speed is 5280 feetfeet
perper hour.
minute.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Example 3B: Converting Rates

The speed is 5280 feet per minute.

Check that the answer is reasonable.

• There are 60 min in 1 h, so 5280 ft/min is
60(5280) = 316,800 ft/h.

• There are 5280 ft in 1 mi, so 316,800 ft/h

is This is the given rate
in the problem.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Check It Out! Example 3
A cyclist travels 56 miles in 4 hours. What is the
cyclist’s speed in feet per second? Round your
answer to the nearest tenth, and show that your
answer is reasonable.
Step 1 Convert the speed to feet per hour.

Change to miles in 1 hour.

To convert the first quantity in a
rate, multiply by a conversion
factor with that unit in the
second quantity.
The speed is 73,920 feet per hour.
Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Check It Out! Example 3
Step 2 Convert the speed to feet per minute.

To convert the second quantity in a

rate, multiply by a conversion
factor with that unit in the first
quantity.
The speed is 1232 feet per minute.
Step 3 Convert the speed to feet per second.
To convert the second quantity in a
rate, multiply by a conversion
factor with that unit in the first
quantity.
The speed is approximately 20.5 feet per second.
Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Check It Out! Example 3

Check that the answer is reasonable. The answer

is about 20 feet per second.
• There are 60 seconds in a minute so 60(20)
= 1200 feet in a minute.
• There are 60 minutes in an hour so 60(1200)
= 72,000 feet in an hour.
• Since there are 5,280 feet in a mile 72,000 ÷
5,280 = about 14 miles in an hour.
• The cyclist rode for 4 hours so 4(14) = about
56 miles which is the original distance traveled.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions

In the proportion , the products a • d and

b • c are called cross products. You can solve
a proportion for a missing value by using the
Cross Products property.
Cross Products Property

WORDS NUMBERS ALGEBRA

In a proportion, cross If and b ≠ 0

products are equal.
2•6=3•4 and d ≠ 0
then ad = bc.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Example 4: Solving Proportions

Solve each proportion.

A. B.

Use cross Use cross

products. products.

3(m) = 5(9) 6(7) = 2(y – 3)

42 = 2y – 6
3m = 45 +6 +6 Add 6 to
48 = 2y both
Divide both
sides.both
Divide
sides by 3.
m = 15 sides by 2.
24 = y
Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Check It Out! Example 4
Solve each proportion.
A. B.

Use cross Use cross

products. products.
2(y) = –5(8) 4(g +3) = 5(7)

2y = –40 4g +12 = 35 Subtract 12

–12 –12 from both
Divide both 4g = 23 sides.
sides by 2.
Divide both
y = −20 sides by 4.
g = 5.75
Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions

A scale is a ratio between two sets of measurements,

such as 1 in:5 mi. A scale drawing or scale model
uses a scale to represent an object as smaller or
larger than the actual object. A map is an example of
a scale drawing.

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Example 5A: Scale Drawings and Scale Models

A contractor has a blueprint for a house

drawn to the scale 1 in: 3 ft.
A wall on the blueprint is 6.5 inches long. How
long is the actual wall?
blueprint 1 in. Write the scale as a fraction.
actual 3 ft.

Let x be the actual length.

x • 1 = 3(6.5) Use the cross products to solve.
x = 19.5
The actual length of the wall is 19.5 feet.
Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Example 5B: Scale Drawings and Scale Models
A contractor has a blueprint for a house
drawn to the scale 1 in: 3 ft.
One wall of the house will be 12 feet long when
it is built. How long is the wall on the blueprint?
blueprint 1 in. Write the scale as a fraction.
actual 3 ft.
Let x be the actual length.

12 = 3x Use the cross products to solve.

Since x is multiplied by 3, divide
both sides by 3 to undo the
4=x multiplication.
The wall on the blueprint is 4 inches long.
Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Check It Out! Example 5
A scale model of a human heart is 16 ft. long.
The scale is 32:1. How many inches long is
the actual heart it represents?
model 32 in. Write the scale as a fraction.
Convert 16 ft to inches.
actual 1 in. Let x be the actual length.

32x = 192 Use the cross products to solve.

Since x is multiplied by 32, divide
both sides by 32 to undo the
multiplication.
x=6
The actual heart is 6 inches long.
Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Lesson Quiz: Part 1
1. In a school, the ratio of boys to girls is 4:3.
There are 216 boys. How many girls are there?
162
Find each unit rate. Round to the nearest
hundredth if necessary.
2. Nuts cost $10.75 for 3 pounds. $3.58/lb

3. Sue washes 25 cars in 5 hours. 5 cars/h

4. A car travels 180 miles in 4 hours. What is the
car’s speed in feet per minute? 3960 ft/min

Holt Algebra 1
 2-6 Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Lesson Quiz: Part 2

Solve each proportion.

5. 6

6. 16

7. A scale model of a car is 9 inches long. The

scale is 1:18. How many inches long is the car
it represents? 162 in.

Holt Algebra 1