Proportional Reasoning Project

Proportional reasoning – It is a form of mathematical reasoning which involves a sense of co-variation and comparison between two or more quantities.[1]

Ratio – Ratio denotes the magnitude of one quantity with respect to another. In simple words it is a comparison of two numbers. For any two numbers ‘a’ and ‘b’ its ratio can be written as a:b or a/b (read as a is to b).

For example – Ratio of hydrogen atoms to oxygen atoms in water (H₂O) is 2:1 which means for every oxygen atom there are two hydrogen atoms.

Proportion– A proportion is an equation with a ratio on each side. It is expressed as equality of ratios. For numbers a,b,c and d it could be written as

For example – Relation between height and weight of ‘x’ and ‘y’. Heights of x and y are 6 and 8  and weights are 60 and 80 respectively. Ratios of their respective height:weight are equal.

 6:60 = 8:80 = 1:10. This means their height and weight are proportional to each other.

Percentage – It is way of expressing numbers as a fraction of 100. It is denoted by the sign %.

For example – 30% of balls in bag containing 60 balls are white. Find the number of white balls. This means we have to find 30/100*60 = 18 white balls in the bag. 

Cross product algorithm – It is used to find the value of the unknown variable in a given proportion by multiplying the denominator and the numerator on each side. For a proportion     a:b = c:d it is written as ad=bc.

For example – The ratio of Sam’s earning to Jam’s earning is 3:5 while their expenses are in the ratio 1:2. Ratio of their savings is 2:3. Sam is able to save $3000. So find earnings and expenses of both and savings of Jam.

Step 1 – Assign variables    x – is the earning, y is expenses.

Step 2 – Find the earnings and expenses of each in the variable form

            Sam’s earnings = 3x               Sam’s expenses = y

            Jam’s earnings = 5x                Jam’s expenses = 2y

Step 3 – Find the savings = earning – expenses

            Sam’s savings = 3x-y = 3000……(1)

            Jam’s savings = 5x-2y

Step 4 – Ratio of savings = 2:3 implies

             (3x-y) / (5x-2y) = 2 / 3 implies

            3000 / (5x- 2y) = 2/3

Step 5 – Use of cross product algorithm

            3000 * 3 = 2* (5x-2y) implies

            5x-2y = 4500 ……..(2)

Step 6 – Solution

            Solving (1) and (2) we get

            x = 1500   y= 1500

            Sam’s earning = 4500            Sam’s expenses = 1500

            Jam’s earning = 7500             Jam’s expenses = 3000

Questions

1) Can ratios and proportions be negative?

A- Ratios can be negative. For eg- ratio of -3 to 5 is -3/5. But proportions can’t be negative as the minus sign on both sides would cancel each other. For eg- -3:4 = -6:8 here both ratios are equal as minus signs cancel each other.

2) What happens if a number is added or subtracted from both denominator and numerator in a ratio?

A- Suppose a ratio a:b is given. We have 2×2 matrix here.

* d means denominator; n means numerator

3) How does a proportionality between 3 or more ratios denoted?

A- Suppose ratios a:b, c:d , e:f  are proportional. They are denoted as a/b=c/d=e/f.

4) Can fractions be expressed as ratios?

A- Yes. For eg- 3/5:7/15. Solving it we get 3/5*15/7 = 9/7.

5) What is percentage increase or decrease?

A- An increase or decrease of ‘x%’ in a given quantity ‘a’ results in a new value of a(1+x/100) or a(1-x/100). For eg a 30% increase in 200 gives new value as 200(1+30/100) = 260.

Note: There are no outside references other than the footnote in the first page.

[1] Richard Lesh, Thomas Post & Merlyn Northern. Proportional Reasoning. http://cehd.umn.edu/