An exponent value in a would make the system inconsistent because it will either gain or lose height over time.
Any real number without an exponent value will make the system consitent.
Any infintite/repeating number will make the system both consistent and inconsistent. it is consisent because it will stay at a constant rate but also inconsistent because it is repeating and will never end.
When a = 3 and b ≠ 5, the system will be inconsistent because the lines will be parallel. When a = 3 and b = 5, the system will be consistent and dependent because they represent the same line.
If you have a fraction, take one number and put a different number on top or underneath, for example if you have 2 cats and 3 dogs, the ratio from cats to dogs would be 2:3 but if you did 2 cats to the total number of animals, you would add 2 and 3 and get 5, so the ratio would be 2:5.