Proportion Word Problems

Practice:

• First, understand the correct set up of the ratios in proportion will help when solving word problems.

• Example: If 6 melons cost $9; What is the cost of 10 melons?

• What do you know? the cost of 6 melons is $9 and it is equally proportioned to 10 melons to X dollars.

• Now set up the proportion and solve to find the total cost of 10 melons.

Proportions: How to set up to show equivalence

Example: set the proportion from the given ratios.

Word problems using proportion

• Understanding the correct set up of the rates or ratios in proportion form will help when you need to solve proportion problems.

• Example: If 6 melons cost $9, what is the cost of 10 melons?

• The rates are 6 melons to $9 is equal to 10 melons to x dollars.

• Set the proportion up; solve to find the cost of 10 melons.

Answer to the melon problem:

You try: A person weighs 150 lbs on earth weighs about 25 lbs on the moon. How much would a person weigh on earth if their weight on the moon is 32 lbs?

Multiple Choice

Two ratios that are equal are:

• similar sides
• unit rates
• congruent
• proportional

Multiple Choice

A car travels 120 miles in 3 hours (with a constant speed).  How long will it take a car to travel 200 miles?

What is the correct proportion to solve this problem?

• $$\frac{200\ miles}{3\ hours}=\ \frac{?\ hours}{120\ miles}$$

• $$\frac{120\ miles}{3\ hours}=\frac{200\ miles}{?\ hours}$$

Multiple Choice

A car travels 120 miles in 3 hours (with a constant speed).  How long will it take a car to travel 200 miles?

$$\frac{120\ miles}{3\ hours}=\frac{200\ miles}{?\ hours}$$

• 6 hours
• 5 hours
• 4 hours
• 1 hour

Multiple Choice

The cost of 50 apples is $25.00.  How much would 75 apples cost?

• $$\frac{25\ dollars}{50\ apples}=\frac{?\ dollars}{75\ apples}$$

• $$\frac{75\ apples}{25\ dollars}=\frac{?\ dollars}{50\ apples}$$

Multiple Choice

The cost of 50 apples is $25.00.  How much would 75 apples cost?

$$\frac{25\ dollars}{50\ apples}=\frac{?\ dollars}{75\ apples}$$

• $12.50
• $50.00
• $37.50
• $75.00

Multiple Choice

It takes Mike 18 minutes to finish reading 4 pages of a book.  If Mike reads each page at the same pace, how long does it take for him to finish reading 30 pages?

• $$\frac{30\ pages}{4\ \min}=\frac{?\ \min}{18\ pages}$$

• $$\frac{18\ \min}{4\ pages}=\frac{?\ \min}{30\ pages}$$

Multiple Choice

It takes Mike 18 minutes to finish reading 4 pages of a book.  If Mike reads each page at the same pace, how long does it take for him to finish reading 30 pages?

$$\frac{18\ \min}{4\ pages}=\frac{?\ \min}{30\ pages}$$

• 125 minutes
• 162 minutes
• 72 minutes
• 135 minutes

Multiple Choice

Nathan packs 39 boxes in 3 hours for UPS.  If Nathan packs the same number of boxes every hour, how many boxes can he pack in his 8-hour shift?

• $$\ \frac{39\ boxes}{3\ hours}=\ \frac{?\ boxes}{8\ hours}$$

• $$\frac{39\ boxes}{8\ hours}=\frac{?\ boxes}{3\ hours}$$

Multiple Choice

Nathan packs 39 boxes in 3 hours for UPS.  If Nathan packs the same number of boxes every hour, how many boxes can he pack in his 8-hour shift?

• 104 boxes
• 117 boxes
• 13 boxes
• 78 boxes

Multiple Choice

The weight of 13 candy bars is 26 ounces.  If each candy bar weighs the same amount, what is the weight of 35 candy bars?

$$\frac{13\ candy\ bars}{26\ oz}=\frac{35\ candy\ bars}{?\ oz\ }$$

• 78 ounces
• 52 ounce
• 70 ounces
• 2 ounce

Multiple Choice

If 24 loaves of bread cost $48.00, how much would 10 loaves of bread cost?

$$\frac{24\ loaves}{48\ dollars}=\ \frac{10\ loaves}{?\ dollars}$$

• $12.00
• $24.00
• $2.00
• $20.00