Video · + 1 min read
(Video) Proportions
by Math Antics
Here's a video by mathantics that explains proportions.
A proportion is two ratios that are equivalent. For this to be true, the two ratios need to have the same value and units.
We use proportions to figure out something unknown from something known. So if you know how many seconds are in a minute then you can figure out how many seconds are in an hour since you know and hour is .
You would write this as: where represents the number we are trying to find.
To solve this, we can use a procedure called cross multiplying. With cross multiplying, you take the numerator of the first ratio and multiply it by the denominator of the second ratio. Then, you set that equal to the denominator of the first ratio times the numerator of the second ration.
In other words:
Using the above proportion as an example, we can solve for by cross multiplying. We now know there are in an hour.
To check your work, you can insert the solved answer back into the original ratio, and you should get equivalent fractions.
Example:
A student wants to read . He wants to know how many days it will take him to read all those books. We know he can read in . Therefore, we can set up a proportion. Therefore, the student can read in .
Test Yourself: Select all the proportions.
For more word problem examples, check out this lesson!












