Ratio and proportion are two terms that are used in mathematics that happen to be very crucial for every person regardless of their liking or disliking towards this particular subject.
Another very important reason to know about these two terms is that many people tend to get confused between these two and use them interchangeably while these two happen to be completely different from one another.
Key Takeaways
- A ratio is a comparison of two or more quantities, while a proportion is an equation that equates two ratios.
- Ratios can be expressed in different units, while proportions must have the same units on both sides of the equation.
- Ratios can be simplified, while proportions can be solved for a missing value.
Ratio vs Proportion
The ratio is the relationship between two quantities expressed as a fraction or a quotient. For example, the ratio of the number of boys to the number of girls in a classroom can be expressed as “3:2” or “3/2”. Proportion is a statement that two ratios are equal. In other words, if two ratios are proportional, the relationship between the quantities they represent remains constant even when the quantities change.
A ratio can be explained as something that exists between two different quantities pertaining to a similar thing. For example, a person has three blue flowers and two red flowers. In this case, the ratio will be 2: 3.
This number here represents how many red flowers are present compared to the number of blue flowers. While making a ratio, one thing to be kept in mind is that the order should be mentioned very carefully, as it can change the whole equation.
On the other hand, proportion happens to be a term that is used in mathematics when two ratios are said to be equal to one another. An example to understand this is supposed a ratio is one upon two while another ratio is 2 upon 4.
In this case, these two ratios are equal to one another as they refer to half of the whole quantity, so they can be said to be proportionate to one another.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Ratio | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | A mathematical concept that allows the user to compare two different quantities belonging to one similar thing or unit | a mathematical concept that allows the user to compare two different ratios belonging to two different things |
| Sign | Colon or: | Double colon or:: |
| Denoted as | Parts of a total quantity | An equal part of a different quantity |
| Alternative symbol | It can also be expressed by / | It can also be expressed by = |
| Nature | it happens to be an expression in nature | it happens to be an equation in nature |
| Keyword used | the used keyword for this concept is “is to” | They used keyword for this concept is “in proportion to” |
| Represents | It represents a numerical relationship between two different quantities | it represents a numerical relationship between one quantity with respect to the whole quantity or between two ratios |
What is Ratio?
Ratio happens to be a term that is widely used and popular in the language of mathematics all across the world. There might be many ways to ask measuring the ratio for anything, but the fact remains that it happens to be a very crucial aspect of our daily life as it helps to simplify day-to-day things.
A ratio shows how two different quantities related to one single thing are related to one another. Let us take an example of this. A person has a basket of fruits in which he has 10 mangoes and five apples, so the ratio of the two is 2 to 1, also expressed as 2 :1.
This shows how the mangoes are exactly double in quantity related to the apples. There are certain points that are necessary to be kept in mind while deriving a ratio of anything-
- While making a ratio, it is very important to take care of the order of the ratio.
- A single colon or a slash is used to describe the ratio between two quantities.
- In a ratio, the first number is called the antecedent, while the second is called the consequent.
What is Proportion?
Defining proportion is like establishing equality between two quantities or ratios. If we say that the ratio of 2: 1 is equal to the ratio of 4: 2, we simply mean that these four numbers are in proportion to one another or are equal in quantity with respect to one another.
Unlike a ratio, when we talk about proportion, we simply mean that the quantity is being measured with respect to the whole quantity of a particular thing available. This concept is denoted with signs like = or::
This can be explained with an example. There is a fruit basket having a ratio of 2: 4 of apples and mangoes, and another basket has a ratio of 4:8 of grapes and melons. Here these two ratios are in proportion as in both of these. The antecedent happens to be exactly half in quantity as compared to the consequent.
The nature of this concept happens to be relatively an equation, and it represents a numerical relationship between one quantity with respect to the whole quantity or between two ratios.
Main Differences Between Ratio and Proportion
- A Ratio is a mathematical concept that allows the user to compare two different quantities belonging to one similar thing or unit, while a Proportion is a mathematical concept that allows the user to compare two different ratios belonging to two different things.
- The ratio is expressed by a colon, while the proportion is expressed by a double colon.
- The ratio has the nature of an expression, while proportion has the nature of an equation.
- Ration shows how two different quantities are related to one another, while proportion shows how two ratios are similar to one another.
- The ratio can also be expressed by the sign of slash, while proportion can also be expressed by the sign of equal to.
References
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-03028-6_5
- https://pubs.nctm.org/view/journals/jrme/24/1/article-p41.xml
- https://pubs.nctm.org/view/journals/jrme/28/2/article-p216.xml
Last Updated : 06 August, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
The example given for ratio and proportion is simple yet effective in conveying the meaning and application of these concepts.
Agreed, it’s relatable and helps in understanding how ratios and proportions work in real-life scenarios.
The comparison table is a useful summary that highlights the key differences between ratios and proportions, it’s a great addition to the article.
I found it really helpful as well, it’s a handy reference for revising and recalling these concepts.
The article effectively explains how proportions establish equality between quantities or ratios, making the comparison more understandable.
Indeed, the article provides a clear distinction between the meaning and application of ratios and proportions.
The article effectively distinguishes the nature and representation of ratios and proportions, providing valuable insights into these mathematical concepts.
I agree, the article offers a comprehensive understanding of the differences between ratio and proportion and their significance.
The detailed comparison and apt examples in the article are quite helpful in understanding the underlying concepts of ratio and proportion.
The significance of maintaining the order and using appropriate symbols in ratios is an insightful point for ensuring accuracy in representation.
Absolutely, it’s a fundamental aspect of utilizing ratios effectively in various calculations.
I found the emphasis on the order of ratio and the roles of antecedent and consequent very informative, it brings clarity to the concept.
The concept of proportionate quantities and the comparison with ratios is elucidated well in the article, it’s a comprehensive explanation.
I found the article to be quite enlightening on the distinctions between ratio and proportion, very well articulated.
The distinction between ratio and proportion is quite crucial to understand and it’s useful for everyday applications, I appreciate the explanation provided in the article.
Yes, the explanations were clear and well-illustrated, making it easy for readers to comprehend.
I agree, it’s important to understand these mathematical concepts and how they differ from each other.
The detailed insight into both ratio and proportion has enhanced my understanding of these mathematical concepts, I enjoyed reading the article, very informative.
The article has effectively highlighted the significance of understanding ratio and proportion in various contexts, it’s a valuable piece of information.
Absolutely, the examples and explanations are very useful in comprehending the practical applications of these concepts.
The distinction between antecedent and consequent in a ratio is something I’ve learned from this article, I appreciate the detailed explanation.
Yes, understanding the components of a ratio makes it easier to interpret and use ratios correctly in different contexts.