# 11.02 Simplify ratios

Lesson

## Expressing ratios as fractions

Last lesson we saw that we could express a ratio as a part-to-part relationship or a part-to-whole relationship. For example, if we wanted to describe the ratio of green dots to blue dots in the image above, we would write it as ratio $2:3$2:3. And alternatively, if we wanted to express the ratio of green dots to the total amount of dots we could use the ratio $2:5$2:5.

We can also express ratios as fraction in these two ways. The ratio of green to blue dots is $\frac{2}{3}$23, which we can interpret as there are two-thirds as many green dots as blue dots. We can also express the green dots as a ratio out of the total amount of dots with the ratio $\frac{2}{5}$25, that is two-fifths of the total number of dots are green. When expressing ratios take care if you want a direct comparison between parts or the proportion those parts make up of a whole.

#### Worked example

##### Example 1

A cordial mix requires the ratio of $30$30 ml of cordial to $100$100 ml of water.

(a) Express the ratio of cordial to water as a fraction in simplest form.

Think: As we want the ratio of cordial to water, the amount of cordial will be in the numerator and water will be in the denominator.

Do:

 Ratio cordial to water $=$= $\frac{30}{100}$30100​ $=$= $\frac{30\div10}{100\div10}$30÷10100÷10​ Divide top and bottom by a common factor of $10$10 to simplify the fraction. $=$= $\frac{3}{10}$310​

This means there is $\frac{3}{10}$310 the amount of cordial compared to water.

(b) Write the ratio of cordial in a mixed drink as a fraction in simplest form.

Think: This time we want the ratio of cordial to the total liquid in a mixed drink. We have $30$30 ml of cordial and $100$100 ml of water, so the total will be $130$130 ml.

Do:

 Ratio cordial to total $=$= $\frac{30}{130}$30130​ $=$= $\frac{30\div10}{130\div10}$30÷10130÷10​ Divide top and bottom by a common factor of $10$10 to simplify the fraction. $=$= $\frac{3}{13}$313​

Thus, in a drink made to the given ratio cordial will be $\frac{3}{13}$313 of the total drink.

#### Practice questions

##### Question 1

The table shows the amount of several ingredients in a pack of $150$150-gram biscuits.

Number of grams in one pack of biscuits
fat $14$14 grams
sugar $16$16 grams
milk $15$15 grams
wheat $18$18 grams
1. State the ratio of sugar to fat as a fraction in simplest form.

2. State the ratio of wheat to milk as a fraction in simplest form.

##### Question 2

Xavier and Quiana scored goals in their netball game in the ratio $8:3$8:3.

1. What fraction of the total number of goals was scored by Xavier?

$\frac{\editable{}}{\editable{}}$

##### Question 3

Express $\frac{7}{35}$735 as a ratio of integers in the form $a:b$a:b

## Equivalent and simplified ratios

Just as we can make equivalent fractions and can simplify fractions we can also do this with ratios written in the form $a:b$a:b. To make an equivalent fraction, recall we can multiply or divide the numerator and denominator by the same value. Having seen above how we can express a ratio as a fraction, this would be the same as multiplying or dividing both sides of a ratio by the same number. Multiplication and division by the same number preserves the proportion of the values in the ratio.

Consider the following example: a cake recipe that uses $1$1 cup of milk and $4$4 cups of flour, that is, the ratio of milk to flour is $1:4$1:4. What if we want to make two cakes? We would need to double the amount of milk and flour we use. This means we will need $2$2 cups of milk and $8$8 cups of flour. Now the ratio of milk to flour is $2:8$2:8.

But do we get two different ratios from the same recipe? No, the two ratios actually represent the same proportion of milk to flour. We say that $1:4$1:4 and $2:8$2:8 are equivalent ratios.

Two cakes require twice the ingredients of one cake, but in the same proportion.

A ratio is a simplified ratio if there is no equivalent ratio with smaller integer values. This is the same as saying that the two integers in the ratio have a highest common factor of $1$1. Just as we simplify fractions by dividing by the numerator and denominator by a common factor we can divide both sides of a ratio expression by a common factor.

A simplified ratio uses only integers. A ratio that includes fractions or decimals is not yet fully simplified and can be increased or decreased by an appropriate multiple to simplify it.

#### Worked example

##### Example 2

A recipe for a salad dressing includes $20$20 ml of vinegar and $60$60 ml of olive oil.

(a) Fill in the table shown below to make equivalent ratios for a larger amount of dressing.

Vinegar to Olive Oil
$20$20 : $60$60
$30$30 : $90$90
$40$40 : $\editable{}$
$\editable{}$ : $300$300

Think: What do you need to multiply one side of the ratio by to get the known value? Multiply both sides by this value to get an equivalent ratio.

Do:

 Vinegar to Olive oil Vinegar to Olive oil $20$20 : $60$60 $20$20 : $60$60 $\times2$×2 $\times2$×2 $\times5$×5 $\times5$×5 $40$40 : $\editable{}$ $\editable{}$ : $300$300

Hence, the completed table is:

Vinegar to Olive Oil
$20$20 : $60$60
$30$30 : $90$90
$40$40 : $120$120
$100$100 : $300$300

(b) What is the simplified ratio of vinegar to olive oil in the dressing?

Think: What is the highest common factor of $20$20 and $60$60? Divide both sides of the ratio by this number.

Do:
 Vinegar to Olive oil $20$20 : $60$60 $\div20$÷20 $\div20$÷20 $1$1 : $3$3

The simplified ratio of vinegar to olive oil is $1:3$1:3. A simplified ratio is great for simple recipes, this one tells us we need three times as much olive oil than vinegar. So if rather than measuring in millilitres we put $1$1 tablespoon on vinegar we know we need to put $3$3 tablespoons of olive oil.

#### Practice questions

##### Question 4

Complete the table of equivalent ratios and use it to answer the following questions.

1. Dogs to Cats
$9$9 : $5$5
$18$18 : $10$10
$27$27 : $\editable{}$
$45$45 : $\editable{}$
$\editable{}$ : $50$50
2. If there are $270$270 dogs, how many cats are there expected to be?

$150$150

A

$30$30

B

$270$270

C

$266$266

D

$150$150

A

$30$30

B

$270$270

C

$266$266

D
3. Which of the following is the fully simplified ratio for $270:150$270:150?

$135:75$135:75

A

dogs$:$:cats

B

$2:1$2:1

C

$9:5$9:5

D

$135:75$135:75

A

dogs$:$:cats

B

$2:1$2:1

C

$9:5$9:5

D

##### Question 5

Write $50$50cents to $\$2.102.10 as a fully simplified ratio by first converting to the same units, and then simplifying.

##### Question 6

Simplify the ratio $5.4:0.75$5.4:0.75

##### Question 7

Simplify this ratio:

1. $\frac{6}{5}$65:$\frac{7}{10}$710

### Outcomes

#### ACMEM066

understand the relationship between fractions and ratio

#### ACMEM067

express a ratio in simplest form