Free taster
5 of 6 sections open
The Art of Sharing
The Art of Sharing
From mixing paint colors to baking the perfect cake, ratios are everywhere. When a recipe calls for flour to sugar in the ratio 3:1, or when artists mix yellow and blue paint in ratio 2:3 to get the perfect green, they're using one of mathematics' most practical tools. Ratios help us understand proportions, scale models, map distances, and financial splits - making fair sharing and accurate scaling possible in countless real-world situations.
What is a ratio?: A comparison of quantities of the same kind
Written as a:b or a/b
Example: 3:5 means '3 parts to 5 parts'
Mathematics glossary
- What is a ratio?
- A comparison of quantities of the same kind Written as a:b or a/b Example: 3:5 means '3 parts to 5 parts'
Earn the mark scheme marks
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Wrong: Adding to ratios: 2:3 + 1:2 = 3:5
✅ Right: Cannot add ratios directly
Convert to fractions or find common format first
❌ Wrong: Ignoring order: 3:5 same as 5:3
✅ Right: Order matters in ratios
3:5 means first is 3 parts, second is 5 parts
❌ Wrong: Not converting units: 2m : 50cm = 2:50
✅ Right: 200cm : 50cm = 4:1
Always convert to same units before simplifying
❌ Wrong: Forgetting to simplify: Answer 10:15
✅ Right: 10:15 = 2:3
Always give ratio in simplest form
Now try it yourself
Quiz · Question 1 of 12
Write the ratio 12:18 in its simplest form.
Tap an answer to check it