1.7.2

Proportion

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Proportion

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

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Ratios in proportion

  • An equals sign between two ratios means that the two ratios are in proportion.
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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
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Proportions and fractions

  • Proportions can be converted into an equation involving fractions.

Direct Proportion

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Notation

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

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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.
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Days taken are inversely proportional to builders

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

  • We want to know the days taken for 4 builders to build the wall.

Jump to other topics

1Numbers

2Equations, Formulae & Identities

3Sequences, Functions & Graphs

4Geometry

5Vectors & Transformation Geometry

6Statistics & Probability

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