Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Proportion

Two pairs of numbers are in proportion if the ratio between the first pair is equivalent to the ratio between the second pair.

Ratios in proportion

Ratios in proportion

  • An equals sign between two ratios means that the two ratios are in proportion.
Worded problems

Worded problems

  • Worded problems can be converted into proportions.
  • ‘The ratio of male to female pupils on a school trip is 5 : 2’
    • This can be written as m : f = 5 : 2
Proportions and fractions

Proportions and fractions

  • Proportions can be converted into an equation involving fractions.

Direct Proportion

Notation

Notation

  • This means x is proportional to y.
  • This means there is some number k such that x = ky.
Proportional to x²

Proportional to x²

  • If y is proportional to x2 then we write y α x2 and there is some number k such that y = kx2.

Inverse Proportion

3 builders take 12 days to build a wall. How long does it take 4 builders to build an identical wall?

Notation

Notation

  • We write y α 1x and there is some number k such that y = kx.
  • The time taken to complete a job is inversely proportional to the number of people working on the job.
Days taken are inversely proportional to builders

Days taken are inversely proportional to builders

  • d = number of days taken
  • b = number of builders
Sub in b = 4

Sub in b = 4

  • We want to know the days taken for 4 builders to build the wall.
Jump to other topics
1

Numbers

2

Equations, Formulae & Identities

3

Sequences, Functions & Graphs

4

Geometry

5

Vectors & Transformation Geometry

6

Statistics & Probability

Practice questions on Proportion

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
Answer all questions on Proportion

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium