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Ratio and Proportion - Dividing quantities into ratios

Grade 6IGCSE

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

A ratio compares the sizes of two or more quantities.

The 'Total Parts' is the sum of all the numbers in the ratio (e.g., in a:b, total parts = a + b).

Dividing a quantity involves finding the value of 'one part' first.

The sum of the divided shares must always equal the original total quantity.

Always ensure all quantities are in the same units before dividing into a ratio.

📐Formulae

Total Number of Parts=a+b+c+\text{Total Number of Parts} = a + b + c + \dots

Value of One Part=Total QuantityTotal Number of Parts\text{Value of One Part} = \frac{\text{Total Quantity}}{\text{Total Number of Parts}}

Share=Ratio Number×Value of One Part\text{Share} = \text{Ratio Number} \times \text{Value of One Part}

💡Examples

Problem 1:

Divide $240 between Alice and Bob in the ratio 5:3.

Solution:

Alice gets 150andBobgets150 and Bob gets 90.

Explanation:

Step 1: Find total parts (5+3=85 + 3 = 8). Step 2: Find value of one part (240÷8=30240 \div 8 = 30). Step 3: Multiply by ratio values (Alice: 5×30=1505 \times 30 = 150; Bob: 3×30=903 \times 30 = 90).

Problem 2:

A recipe uses flour, sugar, and butter in the ratio 5:2:1. If the total weight of the mixture is 400g, find the weight of the sugar.

Solution:

100g

Explanation:

Step 1: Total parts = 5+2+1=85 + 2 + 1 = 8. Step 2: One part = 400g÷8=50g400g \div 8 = 50g. Step 3: Sugar is the middle part of the ratio (2), so 2×50g=100g2 \times 50g = 100g.

Problem 3:

A piece of wood is 1.2 meters long. It is cut into two pieces in the ratio 1:3. Calculate the length of the shorter piece in centimeters.

Solution:

30 cm

Explanation:

First, convert 1.2m to 120cm. Total parts = 1+3=41 + 3 = 4. One part = 120cm÷4=30cm120cm \div 4 = 30cm. The shorter piece represents 1 part, so 1×30cm=30cm1 \times 30cm = 30cm.