Proportions

Proportions

By Jan Steele

A proportion is an equation that shows two ratios are equivalent.

John made trail mix using 2 cups of nuts and 6 cups of dried fruit. Marcy used 3 cups of nuts and 9 cups of dried fruit. Are the two mixes the same?

To determine if the two mixes are the same, check if the ratios form a proportion.

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There are two ways to check if two ratios form a proportion.

Use cross multiplication: Two ratios form a proportion if their cross products are equal.

​Write the ratios as fractions in simplest form. If the fractions are the same, the ratios are equivalent.