Proportions Problems Worksheet - Practical Questions

Proportions Problems Worksheet - Practical Questions A proportion is a set of 2 fractions that equal each other. This article focuses on how to use proportions to solve real life problems. Real World Uses of Proportions Modifying a budget for a restaurant chain that is expanding from 3 locations to 20 locationsCreating a skyscraper from blueprintsCalculating tips, commissions, and sales tax Modifying a Recipe On Monday, you are cooking enough white rice to serve exactly 3 people. The recipe calls for 2 cups of water and 1 cup of dry rice. On Sunday, you are going to serve rice to 12 people. How would the recipe change? If you’ve ever made rice, you know that this ratio - 1 part dry rice and 2 parts water  - is important. Mess it up, and you’ll be scooping a gummy, hot mess on top of your guests crawfish à ©touffà ©e. Because you are quadrupling your guest list (3 people * 4 12 people), you must quadruple your recipe. Cook 8 cups of water and 4 cups of dry rice. These shifts in a recipe demonstrate the heart of proportions: use a ratio to accommodate lifes greater and smaller changes. Algebra and Proportions 1 Sure, with the right numbers, you can forgo setting up an algebraic equation to determine the amounts of dry rice and water. What happens when the numbers are not so friendly? On Thanksgiving, youll be serving rice to 25 people. How much water   do you need?Because the ratio of 2 parts water and 1 part dry rice applies to cooking 25 servings of rice, use a proportion to determine the quantity of ingredients. Note: Translating a word problem into an equation is super important. Yes, you can solve an incorrectly set up equation and find an answer. You can also mix rice and water together to create food to serve at Thanksgiving. Whether the answer or food is palatable depends on the equation. Think about what you know: 3 servings of cooked rice 2 cups of water; 1 cup of dry rice25 servings of cooked rice ? cups of water; ? cup of dry rice3 servings of cooked rice/25 servings of cooked rice 2 cups of water/x cups of water3/25 2/x Cross multiply. Hint: Write these fractions vertically to get the full understanding of cross multiplying. To cross multiply, take the first fractions numerator and multiply it by the second fractions denominator. Then take the second fractions numerator and multiply it by the first fractions denominator.3 * x 2 * 253x 50Divide both sides of the equation by 3 to solve for x.3x/3 50/3x 16.6667 cups of waterFreeze- verify that the answer is correct.Is 3/25 2/16.6667?3/25 .122/16.6667 .12Whoo hoo! The first proportion is right.   Algebra and Proportions 2 Remember that x will not always be in the numerator. Sometimes the variable is in the denominator, but the process is the same. Solve the following for x. 36/x 108/12 Cross multiply:36 * 12 108 * x432 108xDivide both sides by 108 to solve for x.432/108 108x/1084 xCheck and make sure the answer is right. Remember, a proportion is defined as 2 equivalent fractions:Does 36/4 108/12?36/4 9108/12 9It’s right! Practice Exercises Instructions: For each exercise, set up a proportion and solve. Check each answer.1. Damian is making brownies to serve at the family picnic. If the recipe calls for 2  ½ cups of cocoa to serve 4 people, how many cups will he need if there will be 60 people at the picnic? 2. A piglet can gain 3 pounds in 36 hours. If this rate continues, the pig will reach 18 pounds in _________ hours. 3. Denise’s rabbit can eat 70 pounds of food in 80 days. How long will it take the rabbit to eat 87.5 pounds? 4. Jessica drives 130 miles every two hours. If this rate continues, how long will it take her to drive 1,000 miles?