Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Equivalent ratios are two or more ratios that represent the same relationship between quantities. They have the same proportional value, even though the individual numbers in the ratios may be different.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Equivalent ratios have the same proportional relationship, even if the individual numbers in the ratios are different.
Ratios can be made equivalent by multiplying or dividing the numerator and denominator by the same non-zero number.
Equivalent ratios can be used to solve problems involving rates, unit conversions, and proportional reasoning.
Identifying equivalent ratios is a crucial skill for solving problems in the context of 5.6 Ratios and Rate.
Equivalent ratios can be represented visually using diagrams, models, or tables to illustrate the proportional relationship.
Review Questions
Explain how to determine if two ratios are equivalent.
To determine if two ratios are equivalent, you can use the cross-multiplication method. This involves multiplying the numerator of one ratio by the denominator of the other ratio, and then comparing the resulting products. If the products are equal, then the ratios are equivalent, meaning they represent the same proportional relationship between the quantities.
Describe how equivalent ratios can be used to solve problems in the context of 5.6 Ratios and Rate.
Equivalent ratios are essential for solving problems related to 5.6 Ratios and Rate. For example, you can use equivalent ratios to convert between different units of measurement, such as miles per hour and kilometers per hour. Equivalent ratios can also be used to find missing values in proportional relationships, which is a key concept in understanding rates and unit rates.
Analyze how the concept of equivalent ratios is connected to the broader understanding of proportional reasoning.
The concept of equivalent ratios is fundamental to proportional reasoning, which is the ability to recognize and apply proportional relationships between quantities. Equivalent ratios demonstrate that the relationship between two quantities is the same, regardless of the specific numbers involved. This understanding of proportionality is essential for solving a wide range of problems, from scaling recipes to analyzing rates of change in various contexts. Mastering the concept of equivalent ratios lays the groundwork for developing more advanced proportional reasoning skills.
A proportion is a statement of equality between two ratios, where the relationship between the quantities in one ratio is the same as the relationship in the other ratio.
Cross-Multiplication: Cross-multiplication is a method used to determine if two ratios are equivalent by multiplying the numerator of one ratio with the denominator of the other ratio, and vice versa.