How to reduce a ratio to lowest terms

2 answers:

7 0

It is usual to represent ratios in their simplest form so that we are not operating with large numbers. Reducing ratios to their simplest form is directly linked to equivalent fractions.

For example: On a farm there are 4 Bulls and 200 Cows. Write this as a ratio in its simplest form.

Bulls : Cows

4 : 200

If we halve the number of bulls then we must halve the number of cows so that the relationship between the bulls and cows stays constant. This gives us:

Bulls : Cows

2 : 100

Halving again gives us

1 : 50

So the ratio of Bulls to Cows equals 1 : 50. The ratio is now represented in its simplest form.

An example where we have 3 quantities.

On the farm there are 24 ducks, 36 geese and 48 hens.

Ratio of ducks : geese : hens

24 : 36 : 48

Dividing each quantity by 12 gives us

2 : 3 : 4

So the ratio of ducks to geese to hens equals 2 : 3 : 4 which is the simplest form since we can find no further common factor.

Masja [62]3 years ago

5 0

The other brainly user explains this well but to sum up you just have to find the great common factor or reduce step by step with the factor you see.

Hope this helps !

Photon

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Why is 16:14 and 64:60 not equivalent

bixtya [17]

The 2 ratios are almost equivalent, but not quite. In order to tell if they are equivalent, there are a number of ways but the 2 most common are 1, finding the decimal equivalent of the fraction, and 2, finding the scale factor.

1: Take 16, divide by 14. You should get something around 1.142. Take 64, divide by 60. You should get something around 1.066666.... Not equivalent.

2: Find the scale factor between the 2. To find scale factor, divide the larger numerator and larger denominator by the smaller numerator and smaller numerator. 64/16, 60/14. Not equal.

3 0

3 years ago

Read 2 more answers

What is 72 divided by 4

ser-zykov [4K]

$\frac{72}{4}= \frac{36}{2} = 18$