Proportional Reasoning Problems
1.
The ratio of Dexter’s salary to Claudine’s is 4 to 5. If Claudine earns $3200 per month, how
much of a raise will Dexter have to receive to make the ratio of his salary to Claudine’s 5 to 6?
2.
The ratio of boys to girls in Ms. Zombo’s class is 3 to 2. In Mr. Stolarski’s class it is 4 to 3. If
there are 30 students in Ms. Zombo’s class and 28 students in Mr. Stolarski’s class, what is the
ratio of boys to girls in the combined classes?
3.
A nurse has to make up a 30-ounce solution that is two parts glycerin and three parts water.
a. Write a proportion that you can use to solve for the number of ounces of glycerin needed in the
30-ounce solution. (You do not need to solve the proportion.)
b. How many ounces of water are needed in the 30-ounce solution?
Look for similarities in your thinking as you solve the three problems. In each case, try to think of
more than one way to obtain a correct solution.
Proportional Reasoning Problems
1. The ratio of boys to girls in Ms. Zombo’s class is 3 to 2. In
Mr. Stolarski’s class it is 4 to 3. If there are 30 students in
Ms. Zombo’s class and 28 students in Mr. Stolarski’s class,
what is the ratio of boys to girls in the combined classes?
2. A nurse has to make up a 30-ounce solution that is two parts
glycerin and three parts water.
a. Write a proportion that you can use to solve for the
number of ounces of glycerin needed in the 30-ounce
solution. (You do not need to solve the proportion.)
b. How many ounces of water are needed in the 30-ounce
solution?
3. The ratio of Dexter’s salary to Claudine’s is 4 to 5. If
Claudine earns $3200 per month, how much of a raise will
Dexter have to receive to make the ratio of his salary to
Claudine’s 5 to 6?
Look for similarities in your thinking as you solve the three
problems. In each case, try to think of more than one way to
obtain a correct solution.