ISEE Upper Level Quantitative Reasoning

A comprehensive course to master the mathematical reasoning skills needed for success on the ISEE Upper Level exam.

Advanced Topics

Ratios, Proportions, and Rates

Comparing and Relating Quantities

Ratios, proportions, and rates help you make sense of how things relate to each other, from recipes to travel.

Ratios

Show the relationship between two quantities. If there are 2 cats for every 3 dogs, the ratio is 2:3.

Proportions

A proportion is when two ratios are equal, like \( \frac{2}{3} = \frac{4}{6} \).

Rates

A rate compares things with different units, like miles per hour or dollars per pound.

Solving Proportions

You can solve for unknowns using cross-multiplication: If \( \frac{a}{b} = \frac{c}{d} \), then \( ad = bc \).

Everyday Uses

  • Cooking (recipes)
  • Comparing prices
  • Figuring out speed or cost per minute

Key Formula

\[\frac{a}{b} = \frac{c}{d} \Rightarrow ad = bc\]

Examples

  • If 3 pencils cost $1.50, the rate is $0.50 per pencil.

  • A recipe calls for 2 cups of flour for every 3 eggs. For 6 eggs, you need 4 cups of flour.

In a Nutshell

Use ratios, proportions, and rates to compare and solve problems involving different quantities.

Key Terms

Ratio
A comparison of two quantities by division.
Rate
A ratio comparing two quantities with different units.
Proportion
An equation stating that two ratios are equal.