Video and Examples

In this figure, it is easy to see that the ratio of yellows to greens is $\frac{6}{8}$ . If we put circles around each column of tiles

we can see that the ratio of yellow columns to green columns is $\frac{3}{4}$ .

Since the number of tiles never changed - only how we looked at them - this shows that the ratios $\frac{6}{8}$ and $\frac{3}{4}$ are equivalent to each other. In other words, $\frac{6}{8}\,=\,\frac{3}{4}$

Ratios can be reduced just like fractions!

Example 1

There are 12 boys and 16 girls in a class.

Example 2

What is the ratio of spoons to glasses in simplest form?

[show answer]

Ratios can be reduced or scaled up just like fractions!

Directions:

The ratio is randomly created and plotted on the graph.
Reduce the blue ratio.
Use the sliders to create the ratio in simplest form. Point B moves as you create the ratio.
The ratio in simplest form will ALWAYS lie somewhere on the dotted line.