RATIO AND PROPORTION

IMPORTANT FACTS SAND FORMULAE

1. Ratio:

The ratio of two quantities a and b in the same units, is the fraction

and we

write it

as a : b.
In the ratio a : b, we call a as the first term or antecedent and b, the second term or consequent9
Rule: The multiplication or division of each term of a ratio by the same non-zero number does not affect
the ratio.
Eg.

4 : 5 = 8 : 10 = 12 : 15. Also, 4 : 6 = 2 : 3.

2. Proportion: The equality of two ratios is called proportion.

If a : b = c : d, we write a : b :: c : d and we say that a, b, c, d are in proportion.

Here a and d are called extremes, while b and c are called mean terms.
Product of means = Product of extremes.
Thus, a : b :: c : d

(b x c) = (a x d).

3. (i) Fourth Proportional: If a : b = c : d, then d is called the fourth proportional to a, b, c.

(ii ) Third Proportional:

a : b = c : d, then c is called the third proportion to a and b.

(iii) Mean Proportional: Mean proportional between a and b is ab.

4. (i) Comparison of Ratios:
a c
> .
b d

We say that (a : b) > (c : d)

(ii) Compounded Ratio: The compounded ratio of the ratios: (a : b), (c : d), (e : f) is
2

5. Duplicate Ratios: (i) Duplicate ratio of (a : b) is (a : b ).

(ii) Sub-duplicate ratio of (a : b) is (a : b).

(ace : bdf).

(iii) Triplicate ratio of (a : b) is (a3 : b3).

(iv) Sub-triplicate ratio of (a : b) is (a1/3 : b1/3).
(v)

a c
a+b c+d
If = , then
=
.
b d
a-b c-d

[componendo and dividendo]

6. Variations:
(i) We say that x is directly proportional to y, if x = ky for some constant k and we write, x

y.

(ii) We say that x is inversely proportional to y, if xy = k for some constant k and

1
.
y

we write, x

Ex.1. If a : b = 5 : 9 and b : c = 4 : 7, find a : b : c.

9
Sol.

a : b = 5 : 9 and b : c = 4 : 7 = 4 x

9
:

7x

63
= 9 :

63
=>

a:b:c = 5:9 :

= 20 : 36 : 63.
4

Ex.2. A mixture contains alcohol and water in the ratio 4 : 3 . If 5 litres of water is added to the mixture, the ratio became
4 : 5 . Find the quantity of alcohol in the given mixture.
Sol.

Let the quantity of alcohol and water be 4x litres and 3x litres respectively .Then ,
4x

=
3x + 5
:

20x = 4(3x + 5)

8x = 20

x = 2.5.

Quantity of alcohol = (4 x 2.5) litres . = 10 litres.

Ex.3. In a bag, there are coins of 25 p, 10 p and 5 p in the ratio of 1 : 2 : 3. If there is Rs. 30 in all, how many 5 p coins are
there?

Sol.

Let the number of 25 p, 10 p and 5 p coins be x, 2x, 3x respectively.

Then, sum of their values = Rs.

25x 10 x 2x 5 x 3x
60x
+
+
= Rs.
100 100
100
100

60x
30 x 100
= 30
x=
= 50.
100
60
Hence, the number of 5 p coins = (3 x 50) = 150.

Ex.4.
The salaries A, B, C are in the ratio 2 : 3 : 5. If the increments of 15%, 10% and 20% are allowed respectively in their
salaries, then what will be new ratio of their salaries?

Sol.

Let A = 2k, B = 3k and C = 5k.

115
115
23k
A's new salary = of 2k =
x 2k =
100
100
10

B's new salary =

110
110
33k
of 3k =
x 3k =
100
100
10

120
120
C's new salary = of 5k =
x 5k = 6k
100
100

23k 33k
: : 6k = 23 : 33 : 60
10 10

New ratio

Ex.5.

If Rs. 782 be divided into three parts, proportional to

Sol.

Given ratio =

1st part = Rs. 782 x

, then the first part is:

= 6 : 8 : 9.
6
23

= Rs. 204

Ex.6.
The ratio of the number of boys and girls in a college is 7 : 8. If the percentage increase in the number of boys and
girls be 20% and 10% respectively, what will be the new ratio?
Sol.

Originally, let the number of boys and girls in the college be 7x and 8x respectively.

Their increased number is (120% of 7x) and (110% of 8x).

120
110
x 7x and
x 8x
100
100

=>

=>

42x
44x
and
5
5
The required ratio =

Ex.7.

42x 44x
:
= 21 : 22.
5 5

A and B together have Rs. 1210. If

of A's amount is equal to

of B's amount, how much amount does B have?

Sol.
4
2
A = B
15
5
2 15
A= x
5 4 B
3
A= B
2
A 3
=
B 2
A : B = 3 : 2.
2
B's share = Rs.

1210 x

= Rs. 484.

Ex.8.

Divide Rs. 672 in the ratio 5 : .3

Sol.

Sum of ratio terms = (5 + 3) = 8.

First part = Rs. 672 x

3
= Rs. 420; Second part = Rs.

672 x

Ex.9.

Divide 1458 into two parts such that one may be to the other as 2 : 7.

Sol.

1 part = 2 x

st

1458

1458
= 2x

2+7

= Rs. 252.
8

= 324
9

1458

nd

2 part = 7 x

= 1134
9

Ex.10. The ratio of the money with Rita and Sita is 7 : 15 and that with Sita and Kavita is 7 : 16 . If Rita has Rs. 490 , how
much money does Kavita have?
Sol.

Rita : Sita : Kavita

7 : 15
7
: 16
49 : 105 : 240
The ratio of money with Rita, Sita and Kavita is 49 : 105 : 240
We see that 49 = Rs. 490
3.5

Ex.11.

The ratio of 4

Sol.

43.5
5

: 2 is same as :

(22)3.5
x

: 240 = Rs. 2400

2(2 x 3.5)
=

27
5

= 22 = 4.

Required ratio is 4 : 1.

Ex.12.

If a:b =5:9 and b:c=4:7

Sol:

a:b=5:9

Find a:b:c?

and b:c=4:7=4*9/4:9*4/9=9:63/9

a:b:c=5:9:63/9=20:36:63

Ex.13.

2A=3B=4C

then A:B:C?

Sol:

let 2A=3B=4C= k then

A=k/2, B=k/3, C= k/4
A:B:C=k/2:k/3:k/4=6:4:3

Ex.14.

If A : B = 5 : 7 and B : C = 6 :11, then A : B : C is :

Sol.

A : B = 5 : 7, B : C = 6 : 11 =

7
6x

7
:

11 x

77
= 7:

.
6

77
:

A:B:C = 5:7:

= 30 : 42 : 77.
6

Ex.15. Rs. 425 is divided among 4 men , 5 women and 6 boys such that the share of a man, a woman and a boy may be sin
the ratio of 9 : 8 : 4. What is the share of a woman?
Sol.

The ratio of share of group of men, women and boys = 9 x 4 : 8 x 5 : 4 x 6 = 36 : 40 : 24

425
Share of 5 women =

x 40 = Rs. 170.
36 + 40 + 24

170
:

The share of 1 woman =

= Rs. 34
5

Ex.16.

Find the fourth proportional to the numbers 6, 8 and 15.

Sol.

If x be the fourth proportional, then 6 : 8 = 15 : x

x =

8 x 15
= 20
6
Ex.17.

Divide Rs 1350 into three shares proportional to the numbers 2, 3 and 4.

Sol.

1 share = Rs 1350 x

st

2
= 1350 x

2 + 3 + 4
2nd share = Rs 1350 x

= Rs. 300
9

3
Rs 450
9
4

rd

3 share

= Rs 1350 x

Rs. 600
9

Ex.18.

If a:b=2:3

Sol:

a:b=2:3

b:c=4:5,

c:d=6:7

then a:b:c:d

is

and b:c=4:5=4*3/4:5*3/4=3:15/4

c:d=6:7=6*15/24:7*15/24=15/4:35/8
a:b:c:d=2:3:15/4:35/8=16:24:30:35

Ex.19.

Find the fourth proportion

to 4,9,12

Sol:

d is the fourth proportion to a,b,c

a:b=c:d
4:9=12:x
4x=9*12=>x=27

Ex.20.

Find third proportion

Sol:

if a:b=b:c
16:36=36:x
16x=36*36
x=81

to 16,36

then c is the third proportion to a,b

Ex.21. A sum of money is divided between two persons in the ratio of 3 : 5 , If the share of one person is Rs 20 less than
that of the other, Find the sum.
Sum
Sol.

By the above theorem :

3 + 5

20

Sum =

5 - 3

x 20 = Rs 80
2

Ex.22. The ratio between two numbers is 3 : 4. If each number be increased by 2, the ratio becomes 7 : 9, Find the
numbers.
Sol.

Following the above theorem , the numbers are

2 x 3(7 9)

2 x 4(7 - 9)
And

3 x 9 - 4 x 7

3 x 9 - 4 x 7

Or, 12 and 16.

Ex.23. The ratio of the income of A and B is 5: 4 and the ratio of their expenditures is 3 : 2. If at the end of the year, each
saves Rs. 1600, then the income of A is:
Sol.

Let the incomes of A and B be Rs. 5x and Rs. 4x respectively and let their expenditures be Rs. 3y and Rs. 2y
respectively.
Then, 5x 3y = 1600 .. (i)

and

4x 2y = 1600

,..(ii)

On multiplying (i) by 2, (ii) by 3 and subtracting , we get : 2x = 1600 x = 800.

:

As income = Rs. 5x = Rs. (5 x 800) = 4000.

Ex.24.

The speed of three cars in the ratio 5 : 4 : 6. The ratio between the taken by them to travel the same distance is :

Sol.

Ratio of time taken =

1
:

1
:

= 12 : 15 : 10.
6

Ex.25. The ratio of the number of boys and girls in a college is 7 : 8 .If the percentage increase in the number of boys and
girls be 20 % and 10 % respectively, what will be the new ratio?
Sol.

Originally, let the number of boys and girls in the college be 7x and 8x respectively. Their increased number is ( 120%
of 7x) and (110% of 8x)
120
i.e.

110
x 7X

and

100

100
42x

42x
x 8X

Required ratio =
5

= 21 : 22.
5

44x
and

44x
:

i.e.

.
5

Ex.26.
Sol:

Find mean proportion

between

0.08 and 0.18

mean proportion between a and b=square root of ab

mean proportion =square

Ex.27.

Find third proportion

Sol:

if a:b=b:c

root of 0.08*0.18=0.12

to 16,36

then c is the third proportion to a,b

16:36=36:x
16x=36*36
x=81
Ex.28.

15% of x=20%

of y then x:y is

Sol:

(15/100)*x=(20/100)*y
3x=4y
x:y=4:3

Ex.29. Rs 3650 is divided among 4 engineers, 3 MBAM'-s and 5 CAM'-s such that 3 CAM'-s
as 2 MBAM'-s and 3 EngM'-s as much as 2 CAM'-s .Hnd the share of an MBA.
Sol:

4E+3M+5C=3650
3C=2M, that is M=1.5C
3E=2C that is E=.66 C
Then, (4*0.66C)+(3*1.5C)+5C=3650
C=3650/12.166
C=300
M=1.5 and C=450.

Ex.30.
Sol:

a/3=b/4=c/7 then (a+b+c)/c=

let a/3=b/4=c/7=k
(a+b+c)/c=(3k+4k+7k)/7k=2

get as much