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Ratio, Proportion and Variation

1.

a
is the ratio of a to b; b 0.
b

2. When two ratios are equal, they are said to be in proportion. If

a
c

, then
b
d

a
is
b

c
and can be written as a: b: : c: d. where a and d are
d
called extremes and c and b the means. For a, b, c, d to be in proportion the
product of the extremes = the product of the means.
i.e. ad = bc
a
3. Direct proportion: When
= k or a = kb then a is directly proportional to b,
b
where k is a constant.
4. Inverse proportion: When a and b are so related that ab = k, a constant, then
a and b are said to be inversely proportional to each other.
5. If a sum of money S is divided in the ratio a : b : c then the three parts are
a
S
(i)
abc
b
S
(ii)
abc
c
S
(iii)
abc
6. If a : b = m : n and b : c = p : q then a : b : c = mp : np : nq
7. If A and B are two partners investing in the ratio of m : n for the same period of
time, then the ratio of profits is m : n
8. If the investment is in the ratio m : n and the period in the ratio p : q then the
ratio of profits is mp : nq.
9. If m kg of one kind costing a rupees/kg is mixed with n kg of another kind
ma nb
costing Rs.b/kg, then the price of the mixture is
mn
10. If a varies as b, then a = kb, where k is called the constant of proportionality.
(Direct variation).
11. If a varies as b and b varies as c, there a = kb and b = kc. Where k, k are
constants. a = (kk)c = c, where = kk, is another constant. a varies as
c.
k'
12. if a varies directly as b and b varies inversely as c then a = kb and b =
.
c
kk'

a =
where = kk. Hence a varies inversely as c (mixed
c
c
variation).
in proportion with

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Ratio, Proportion and Variation:

x
2
3x 4y

find the value of 4x 3y

y
3
Solution:

1. If

x
3 4 3 2 4
2 4 6 3 18
3x 4y
y
3

Consider
=
2
89
4x 3y
17
17
x
4 3 4 3
3
3
y
2. What is the least number which when subtracted from both the terms of the
6
16
?
fraction
will be give a ratio equal to
7
21
6 x 16

Let
7 x 21
21(6 x) = 16(7 x)
126 21x = 112 16x
5x = 14
14
x
2.8
5
3. What is the least number which when added to both the terms of the fraction
will give a ratio equal to

7
9

19
?
23

7 x 19

9 x 23
23(7 + x) = 19(9 + x)
161 + 23x = 171 + 19x
4x = 171 161 = 10
10
x
2.5
4
Let

a
b
c

find the value of each fraction

bc ca ab
a c
e
ac e

then each ratio =

Note: If
b d
f
bdf
a
b
c

Let
bc c a ab
abc
abc
1

Each ratio =
b c c a a b 2(a b c) 2
4. If

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5
7m
be equal to
?
6
12 m

5. For what value of m, will the ratio

7m
5
=
say
6
12 m
6 (7 + m) = 5(12 + m)
42 + 6m = 60 + 5m
m = 18
Let

6. If 6x 2 6y 2 13xy what is the ratio of x : y

Solution:
6x2 + 6y2 = 13xy
Divide through out by y2
x

6
y

Put

6 13
y

x
t
y

6t2 13t + 6 = 0
6t2 9t 4t + 6 = 0
3t(2t 3) 2(2t 3) = 0
(2t 3) (3t 2) = 0
3
2
t or
2
3
x 3
2
or
y 2
3

a
c
a2 ab b2 a2 ab b2
then, prove that

b
d
c2 cd d2 c2 cd a2
Solution:
a
c
= K, say
Let
b
d
a = bk ; c = dk
7. If

a2 ab b2

Consider

c2 cd d2
a2 ab b2

Consider

c2 cd d2

b2k2 b2k b2
d2k2 d2k d2
b2k 2 b2k b2
d2k2 d2k d2

From (1) and (2) we find

8. If

x2 y2
2

p q
Solution:
x2 y2
p2 q2
x2 y2
2

p q

a2 ab b2
c2 cd d2

b2 (k2 k 1)
d2 (k2 k 1)

b2(k 2 k 1)
d2(k2 k 1)

b2
d2

------------ (1)

b2
d2

----------- (2)

a2 ab b2
c2 cd d2

xy
xy
then find the value of
xy
pq

xy
pq

2xy
2pq
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x2 y2 p2 q2

2xy
2pq

Use componendo dividendo

If

By componendo dividendo,

x2 y2 2xy
x2 y2 2xy

(x y)2
(x y)

a c
ab cd
then

b d
ab c d

(p q)2
2

(p q)

p2 q2 2pq
p2 q2 2pq

xy pq

xy pq

9. Which is greater of the following two ratios given that a and b are positive.
a 5b
a 6b
or
a 6b
a 7b
Solution:
a 5b a 6b
Consider
a 6b a 7b

(a 5b)(a 7b) (a 6b)2

(a 6b)(a 7b)

a2 12ab 35b 2 a2 12ab 36b 2

(a 6b)(a 7b)

b2
0
(a 6b)(a 7b)

a 6b a 5b

if a, b are >0
a 7b a 6b
10. Which is greater:

abc
ab c
or
, given that a, b, c are positive and (a
abc
abc

b)>c
Solution:
Consider

ab c ab c

abc abc

a b c (a b c) (a b c)(a b c)
(a b c)(a b c)

a ab ac ab b2 bc ca bc c2 a2 ab ac ab b2 bc ca bc c2
a b c a b c
4ab

0 (all the other terms cancel out, leaving only 4ab in the
a b c a b c
numerator)
ab c ab c

Hence
since a, b, c are positive and (a b)>c
ab c ab c

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