Ratio and Proportion Basic 6 Mathematics Lesson Note
Download Lesson NoteTopic: Ratio and Proportion
What is Ratio?
A ratio compares two or more quantities. It shows how many times one quantity is contained in another.
Written as: 3:4 or 3/4 Read as: “3 to 4”
Example: Boys to Girls
In a class of 30 students, 18 are boys and 12 are girls. Ratio of boys to girls = 18:12 = 3:2
Simplifying Ratios
Method: Divide both numbers by their H.C.F
Example: 24:36 H.C.F of 24 and 36 = 12 24 ÷ 12 = 2, 36 ÷ 12 = 3 Simplified ratio = 2:3
Exercise A – Simplifying Ratios
Simplify these ratios:
- 15:20 = ______
- 24:32 = ______
- 45:30 = ______
- 28:42 = ______
- 36:48:60 = ______
Sharing in Given Ratios
Example: Share ₦1,500 between Kemi and Tunde in ratio 2:3
Step 1: Total ratio = 2 + 3 = 5 parts Step 2: Kemi gets 2/5 × ₦1,500 = ₦600 Step 3: Tunde gets 3/5 × ₦1,500 = ₦900
Exercise B – Sharing in Ratios
Solve these sharing problems:
- Share ₦2,400 between two friends in ratio 3:5 First friend: ₦______ Second friend: ₦______
- Divide 240 books among three classes in ratio 2:3:4 Class A: ______ Class B: ______ Class C: ______
- Share 150 oranges between Primary 5 and Primary 6 in ratio 2:3 Primary 5: ______ Primary 6: ______
Direct Proportion
What is Direct Proportion?
When two quantities increase or decrease together at the same rate, they are in direct proportion.
Example: More workers, more work done Formula: If a ∝ b, then a/b = k (constant)
Direct Proportion Method
Example: 5 books cost ₦250. How much do 8 books cost?
Method 1: Unitary Method 5 books cost ₦250 1 book costs ₦250 ÷ 5 = ₦50 8 books cost ₦50 × 8 = ₦400
Method 2: Proportion 5 books : ₦250 = 8 books : x 5/250 = 8/x x = (8 × 250) ÷ 5 = ₦400
Exercise C – Direct Proportion
Solve these problems:
- If 6 pencils cost ₦180, how much do 10 pencils cost? Answer: ₦______
- A car travels 120 km in 2 hours. How far will it travel in 5 hours at the same speed? Answer: ______ km
- 12 workers can complete a task in 8 days. How long will 16 workers take? Answer: ______ days
- If 4 kg of rice costs ₦1,600, how much does 7 kg cost? Answer: ₦______
- A tap fills 15 buckets in 30 minutes. How many buckets will it fill in 50 minutes? Answer: ______ buckets
Inverse Proportion
What is Inverse Proportion?
When one quantity increases and the other decreases at the same rate, they are in inverse proportion.
Example: More workers, less time needed Formula: If a ∝ 1/b, then a × b = k (constant)
Inverse Proportion Method
Example: 8 workers can build a wall in 12 days. How many days will 6 workers take?
Method: Workers × Days = Constant 8 × 12 = 96 6 × Days = 96 Days = 96 ÷ 6 = 16 days
Exercise D – Inverse Proportion
Solve these problems:
- 24 workers can finish a project in 15 days. How long will 18 workers take? Answer: ______ days
- A car traveling at 60 km/h takes 4 hours for a journey. How long will it take at 80 km/h? Answer: ______ hours
- 12 cows eat grass in a field for 20 days. How long will the grass last for 15 cows? Answer: ______ days
- If 20 pumps can empty a pool in 6 hours, how many pumps are needed to empty it in 4 hours? Answer: ______ pumps
- A farmer has food for 50 chickens for 24 days. How long will the food last for 40 chickens? Answer: ______ days
Real Life Problems on Ratio and Proportion
Mixed Problems
Exercise E – School Problems
Solve these school-related problems:
- Recipe Scaling: A recipe for 4 people needs 2 cups of flour. How much flour is needed for 10 people? Answer: ______ cups
- Class Ratio: In Primary 6A, the ratio of boys to girls is 3:2. If there are 15 boys, how many girls are there? Answer: ______ girls
- Sports Team: A football team wins 4 out of every 5 matches. If they play 25 matches, how many will they win? Answer: ______ matches
Exercise F – Money and Business
Solve these money problems:
- Partnership Business: Three friends start a business. Ade contributes ₦200,000, Bola ₦300,000, and Chidi ₦100,000. If they make ₦180,000 profit, how should it be shared? Ade: ₦______ Bola: ₦______ Chidi: ₦______
- Exchange Rate: If $1 = ₦750, how many naira will you get for $15? Answer: ₦______
- Discount Shopping: A shop gives 3 free items for every 12 items bought. If you buy 48 items, how many free items do you get? Answer: ______ free items
Exercise G – Time and Work
Solve these work problems:
- Construction Project: 15 men can build a house in 40 days. How many men are needed to build it in 25 days? Answer: ______ men
- Farm Work: 8 tractors can plough a field in 6 hours. How long will 12 tractors take? Answer: ______ hours
- Water Supply: A water tank lasts 30 families for 12 days. How long will it last for 20 families? Answer: ______ days
Quantitative Reasoning
Pattern Recognition in Ratios
Exercise H – Ratio Patterns
Complete these ratio patterns:
- 3:6, 6:12, 9:18, _____, _____
- 1:4, 2:8, 3:12, _____, _____
- 2:1, 4:2, 6:3, _____, _____
Exercise I – Proportion Reasoning
Use logical thinking to solve:
- Speed and Time: If speed doubles, time becomes _______ (half/double)
- Workers and Days: If the number of workers increases, days needed _______ (increase/decrease)
- Price and Quantity: If you buy more items, total cost _______ (increases/decreases)
Exercise J – Problem Analysis
Identify if these are direct or inverse proportion:
- More books, more weight = _______ proportion
- More speed, less time = _______ proportion
- More workers, more salary paid = _______ proportion
- More people, less food per person = _______ proportion
Answer Key
Exercise A:
- 3:4
- 3:4
- 3:2
- 2:3
- 3:4:5
Exercise B:
- ₦900, ₦1,500
- 53, 80, 107
- 60, 90
Exercise C:
- ₦300
- 300 km
- 6 days
- ₦2,800
- 25 buckets
Exercise D:
- 20 days
- 3 hours
- 16 days
- 30 pumps
- 30 days
Exercise E:
- 5 cups
- 10 girls
- 20 matches
Exercise F:
- Ade: ₦60,000, Bola: ₦90,000, Chidi: ₦30,000
- ₦11,250
- 12 free items
Exercise G:
- 24 men
- 4 hours
- 18 days
Exercise H:
- 12:24, 15:30
- 4:16, 5:20
- 8:4, 10:5
Exercise I:
- half
- decrease
- increases
Exercise J:
- direct
- inverse
- direct
- inverse