- Definition
A ratio compares how much there is of one thing compared to another, like saying there are 3 apples for every 4 oranges. You can write it as "3 to 4," "3:4," or as a fraction like 3/4.
If there are 3 red apples and 4 green apples in a bowl, the ratio of red to green apples is 3:4.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A ratio is like a recipe for mixing things, like for every 1 scoop of juice powder, you need 3 scoops of water.
Ask your child: If we have 2 red blocks for every 1 blue one, what's the pattern?
Common mix-up: Kids may think a ratio is just a fraction of the total amount. A ratio compares one quantity to another, like comparing the number of dogs to the number of cats.
Examples
- In a group with 2 boys and 5 girls, the ratio of boys to girls is 2 to 5.
- A recipe calling for 1 cup of sugar for every 2 cups of flour has a 1:2 ratio of sugar to flour.
ratio is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
