Ratios
This topic covers 5 learning steps, guiding your child from the basics through to confident problem-solving. Each step includes a worked example and adaptive practice questions.
What Your Child Will Learn
- What Is a Ratio?
Understand ratio notation and meaning - Simplify Ratios
Reduce ratios to simplest form - Equivalent Ratios
Find equivalent ratios by scaling - Sharing in a Ratio
Divide amounts using given ratios - Challenge — Ratio Word Problems
Multi-step ratio problems in context
Common Mistakes
- Confusing ratio with fractions (e.g. thinking "2:3" means 2/3 of the total)
A ratio of 2:3 means for every 2 of one thing, there are 3 of another. The total parts = 2 + 3 = 5. So 2:3 means 2/5 and 3/5 of the total, NOT 2/3. Draw bar models to show this clearly. - Adding to both parts of a ratio instead of multiplying (e.g. scaling 2:3 by adding 2 to get 4:5 instead of multiplying to get 4:6)
To scale a ratio, multiply BOTH parts by the same number. 2:3 doubled is 4:6, NOT 4:5. This keeps the relationship the same.
Tips for Parents
- Use cooking recipes: "The recipe uses 2 cups of flour for every 1 cup of sugar — that is a ratio of 2:1. If we double the recipe, we need 4:2."
- Mix squash and water in different ratios: "1 part squash to 4 parts water (1:4). Can you taste the difference if we change it to 1:3?"
- Share things in a ratio: "Share 15 sweets in the ratio 2:3. How many does each person get?" (6 and 9)
- Draw bar models: for the ratio 3:2, draw 3 boxes and 2 boxes. If the total is 25, each box is worth 5, so the amounts are 15 and 10.
Key Words
- Ratio — A comparison of two or more quantities — 3:2 means "for every 3 of one, there are 2 of another."
- Proportion — The share of each part relative to the whole — in the ratio 3:2, 3/5 is one proportion and 2/5 is the other.
- Simplify — Reduce a ratio to its smallest form — 6:4 simplifies to 3:2 (divide both by 2).
- Scale — Multiply both parts of a ratio by the same number to make equivalent ratios.
- Parts — The individual sections in a ratio — in 3:2, there are 5 parts in total.
Where This Fits
Before this topic: Children should understand multiplication and division, equivalent fractions, and be comfortable with the idea of "for every."
After this topic: Ratio basics lead to solving ratio problems with unknowns, understanding proportion, scale drawings, and proportional reasoning throughout secondary school.
How MathCraft Teaches This
In MathCraft, Ratios is taught through the Number & Fractions adventure track. Your child follows guided lessons with friendly characters, works through examples step by step, then practises with questions that adapt to their level.
The adaptive engine tracks mastery across all 5 steps, revisiting concepts your child finds tricky and advancing when they're ready. Parents can see detailed progress in the Parent Dashboard.
Practise Ratios with MathCraft
Step-by-step lessons, worked examples, and adaptive practice — all wrapped in an adventure game your child will love.
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