Mathematics for Engineering Technicians

Ratio and Proportion

At the end of this session you should be able to:

Relate ratio and proportion to
fractions

Convert fractions and decimals
to percentage
Ratio
A ratio is a comparison between two
similar quantities.
If a length of a ship is 200m and a model
of it is 1m long then the length of the
model is the of the length of the ship.
In making the model all dimensions of the
ship are reduced in the ratio of 1 to 200.
The ratio 1 to 200 is usually written 1:200.

Before we can state a ratio the units have
to be the same.
We can state a ratio between 3 cm and
2m provided we bring both lengths to the
same units.
Thus if we convert 2m to 200cm the ratio
between the two lengths is 3:200
A ratio can also be written as a fraction, e.g.
- a ratio of 1:200 means the same as the fraction .

Example 1:
Express the following ratios as fractions reduced to
their lowest terms:
4cm to 2.2m - 800g to 1.6kg

55
1
220
4
220 : 4
220 2 . 2

cm m
Solution
2
1
1600
800
1600 : 800
1600 6 . 1

g kg
Solution
Direct Proportion
If 5 litres of oil have a mass of 4kg, then 10 litres of
the same oil will have a mass of 8kg.
That is, if we double the quantity of oil its mass is
also doubled.
Now 2 litres of oil will have a mass of 2kg. That is,
if we halve the quantity of oil we halve its mass.
This is an example of direct proportion. As the
quantity of oil increases the mass increases in the
same proportion. As the quantity of oil decreases the
mass decreases in the same proportion.

Proportion
Practice Example
The electrical resistance of a wire 15cm
long is 2 ohms. Find the resistance of a
similar wire which is 1m long.
The lengths of the two wires are increased
in the ratio 100:15. The resistance will also
increase in the ratio 100:15.

The resistance of wire 1m long

.
3
1
13
15
100
2 Ohms
A motor car will travel 30 km in 1 hour if
its speed is 30km per hour.
If its speed is increased to 60 km per
hour the time taken to travel 30 km will
be hour. That is when the speed is
doubled the time taken is halved.
This is an example of inverse proportion.
When we multiplied the speed by 2 we
have divided the time taken by 2.

Inverse proportion
Two pulleys of 15cm and 5cm diameter are connected by
a belt. If the larger pulley revolves at 80 rpm. Find the
speed of the smaller pulley.
The smaller pulley must revolve faster then the larger
pulley and hence the quantities, speed and diameter,
are in inverse proportion.
The pulley diameters are decreased in the ratio 5:15 or
1:3. The speed will be increased in the ratio 3:1.

The speed of the smaller pulley

Practice Example
rpm 240
1
3
80
A certain brass is made by alloying copper and zinc in
the ratio of 7:3. How much copper must be mixed with
30g of zinc?

3 parts have a mass of 30g
1 part has a mass of 10g
7 parts have a mass of 70g

Therefore the mass of copper needed = 70g

Practice Example
To make a certain solder, tin and lead are
mixed in the ratio 6:2. How much of each
metal will be required to make 20kg of
solder?
Total number of parts

Each part has a mass of

Therefore:
Mass of tin required

Mass of lead required

1- Express the following ratios as fractions reduced to
their lowest terms:
a. 15g to 2kg
b. 3mm to 5cm
c. 20cm
2
to 100mm
2

d. 400m to 3km

2- The length of a ship and the length of a
model are in the ratio of 200:1. If the ship is
300m long, how long is the model?

Exercise