Finding Missing Values in a Table of Equivalent Ratios

You can find equivalent ratios by multiplying or spaniding both terms of a ratio by the same number. This is similar to finding equivalent fractions of a given fraction. All the ratios in the tables below are equivalent.

The table below represent the equivalent ratios 1:3, 2:6, 3:9

The table below represent the equivalent ratios 1:4, 3:12, 5:20

Such tables of equivalent ratios can be used to find missing values as follows.

Find the missing values in the following table of equivalent ratios:

Solution

Step 1:

Find the missing values in the following table of equivalent ratios :

$frac{x}{6} = frac{10}{3}; x = frac{10}{3} imes 6 = frac{10}{3} imes frac{6}{1} = 20$

$frac{y}{40} = frac{3}{10}; y = frac{3}{10} imes 40 = frac{3}{10} imes frac{40}{1} = 12$

Step 2:

So, $x = 9; y = 28$

Find the missing values in the following table of equivalent ratios:

Solution

Step 1:

Since the table gives values of equivalent ratios

$frac{x}{6} = frac{3}{2}; x = frac{3}{2} imes frac{6}{1} = frac{3}{2} imes frac{6}{1} = 9$

$frac{y}{12} = frac{2}{3}; y = frac{2}{3} imes 12 = frac{2}{3} imes frac{12}{1} = 8$

Step 2:

So, $x = 9; y = 8$