Kattie Homework Ratio

[Kattie]

There are 45 counters in a box. How would you divide the counters to represent the ratio 8:7 on a smaller box?

First, set up your two proportions (find out what is the total of the second box)

Answer:__________________ counters and ____________________ counters

I thought I was supposed to cross multiply 8x 45 = 360 but 360 divided by 7 = 51.428 so that can't be right.

 

[tkhunny]

Please show your work and efforts. Do NOT say, I have no idea." That will jsut make me angry.

RBGTHGANH

 

[Kattie]

Here is what I thought I should have done. 8:7 is 8/7 to x/45. if you cross multiply you get 8 x 45 = 360 however that didn't make sense because 360 divided by 7 is not a whole number but 51.428. I'm soooo confused.

 

[tkhunny]

Couple of different ways. One a little more obvious.

When given this information, "a:b" there is an odd thing missing - THE TOTAL!! These are just the pieces. a+b is the total.

45 is the TOTAL.

Either of these is fine:

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{8+7}\;=\;\frac{x}{45}\)

or

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{7}\;=\;\frac{x}{45-x}\)

 

[Kattie]

Thank you.