Proportion Scenarios

Types of proportion scenarios

There are usually two types of proportion scenarios:

  • find a missing quantity (given a ratio of two quantities and one of the actual quantities)
  • compare two proportions (not covered here)

You can solve 'missing quantity' proportion questions using any of the following methods:

  1. writing and solving a proportion equation (an algebraic method)
    or
  2. finding the equivalent ratio for one unit then multiply by the required number of units (the unitary method -- a non-algebraic method)
    or
  3. first creating a table of values then building up or down to the required number of units by multiplying and/or dividing (another non-algebraic method).

Try these questions to test your understanding. You may want to review one or more of the methods mentioned above by following the links.






For more practise of your proportional reasoning skills try these questions.