A ratio compares two quantities. Learn to write them, say them, and use them!
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What Is a Ratio?
A ratio compares two quantities. Example: 3 cats and 5 dogs → ratio of cats to dogs is 3 to 5. Order matters — always name the quantities in the same order!
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3 Ways to Write a Ratio
You can write the same ratio three ways: 3 to 5 — words 3:5 — colon notation 3/5 — fraction form All three mean the same thing!
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Part-to-Part vs Part-to-Whole
Part-to-part: cats to dogs = 3:5 Part-to-whole: cats to all pets = 3:8 Always read carefully which comparison is asked for!
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Ratio Language
"For every 2 wings there is 1 beak." "The ratio of boys to girls is 4 to 3." "There are 5 red for every 2 blue." Use precise language to describe ratios!
🔑 Key Idea: A ratio does NOT have to be written as a fraction. 3:5 and 3 to 5 and 3/5 all represent the same ratio — but only 3/5 is a fraction. A ratio is a comparison!
📊 Three Ways to Write a Ratio
🐦 Example: Bird House — There are 6 wings and 3 beaks.
The ratio of wings to beaks:
6 to 3
Word form
6:3
Colon form
6/3
Fraction form
"For every 2 wings there is 1 beak." (simplified: 2:1)
🍎🍊 Example: Fruit Bowl — 4 apples and 6 oranges (10 fruit total)
Ratio of apples to oranges (part-to-part): 4:6
Ratio of apples to all fruit (part-to-whole): 4:10
Ratio of oranges to apples (reversed!): 6:4 ← different ratio!
⚠️ Watch out! The ratio of A to B is NOT the same as the ratio of B to A. Order always matters!
🧩 Matching — Drag Into the Right Box
Each card shows a scenario. The highlighted part is what you need to classify. Drag into the correct box — instant feedback! ✅❌
🐦 Bird house: 6 wings, 3 beaks → 6:3
🍎 Fruit bowl: 4 apples out of 10 total fruit → 4:10
⚽ Team: 3 boys, 5 girls → 3:5
🏀 Class: 12 students like basketball out of 30 total → 12:30
🎨 Paints: 2 red brushes and 7 blue brushes → 2:7
🐾 Shelter: 5 cats out of 13 total animals → 5:13
🔴 Part-to-Part Ratio Comparing one group TO another group
🟣 Part-to-Whole Ratio Comparing one group TO the total
🗂️ Sort It!
Each card shows a ratio written a certain way. The highlighted part is the ratio notation. Sort it into the correct form! Instant feedback ✅❌
🐶 5 dogs and 3 cats → 5 to 3
🍕 2 cheese pizzas out of 9 total → 2/9
🏆 4 wins compared to 6 losses → 4:6
🌸 3 pink flowers for every 7 white → 3 to 7
🎒 7 backpacks out of 20 students → 7:20
🍬 8 red candies out of 15 total → 8/15
📝 Word Form or Colon Form "X to Y" or "X:Y"
➗ Fraction Form "X/Y" written as a fraction
✏️ Fill in the Blank
Read each scenario. The highlighted part is exactly what you need to identify. Pick the correct ratio or answer!
🐦 A birdhouse has 6 wings and 3 beaks. The ratio of wings to beaks compares wings first, then beaks.
The ratio of wings to beaks is
🍎 A fruit bowl has 4 apples and 6 oranges. The ratio of oranges to apples puts oranges first.
The ratio of oranges to apples is
⚽ A soccer team has 3 boys and 5 girls. The total number of players is all boys plus all girls combined.
The ratio of boys to total players (part-to-whole) is
🎨 An art class has 2 red brushes and 7 blue brushes. The ratio of blue to red — notice blue comes FIRST in this question.
The ratio of blue to red is
🐾 An animal shelter has 5 cats, 4 dogs, and 3 rabbits. The ratio of cats to all animals is a part-to-whole ratio.
The ratio of cats to all animals is
🗳️ In an election, Candidate A got 3 votes for every vote Candidate B got. The ratio of A's votes to B's votes uses "for every" language.
This is written as
🔢 The ratio 8:12 can be written in three different ways. One is the word form, one uses a colon, one uses a fraction bar.
The fraction form of 8:12 is
🏀 In a class, 12 students like basketball and 18 do not. What is the ratio of basketball fans to non-fans?
The ratio is
🔢 Write the Ratio
Read each scenario. The highlighted part tells you EXACTLY what to write the ratio for. Choose the correct ratio!
🐶🐱 In a pet store there are 8 dogs and 5 cats. You want to describe the relationship between dogs and cats.
Ratio of dogs to cats:
🍬 A bag has 6 red candies, 4 blue, and 2 green. You want to know how red candies compare to all candies.
Ratio of red to total:
🏫 A class has 14 girls and 11 boys. You want to express girls compared to boys using fraction form.
Fraction form for girls to boys:
🏆 A team won 7 games and lost 3 games. Express losses compared to total games played.
Ratio of losses to total:
🌈 There are 5 yellow crayons and 9 purple crayons. Describe purple compared to yellow in word form.
Word form for purple to yellow:
🍕🌮 At a lunch table, 6 students chose pizza and 4 chose tacos. For every student who chose tacos, how many chose pizza?
Ratio of pizza to tacos:
🗣️ Ratio Language
Match each ratio to the sentence that correctly describes it in ratio language. The highlighted phrase is the key language to match!
Drag each ratio card into the box that matches the correct sentence. Instant feedback! ✅❌
Ratio: 2:1 (wings to beaks)
Ratio: 3:1 (votes for C per vote for A)
Ratio: 5:2 (red to blue marbles)
Ratio: 4:10 (apples to all fruit)
🗣️ "For every 2 wings there is 1 beak"
🗳️ "Candidate C got nearly three votes for every vote A got"