Ratios are numbers that are used in nursing to compare two numbers that have a relationship to each other. In nursing practice, there are many numbers that are related to each other. For example, 50 milligrams are contained in each vial.

Write a Ratio as a Fraction

When you apply for a mortgage, the loan officer will compare your total debt to your total income to decide if you qualify for the loan. This comparison is called the debt-to-income ratio. A ratio compares two quantities that are measured with the same unit. If we compare 𝑎 and 𝑏, the ratio is written as to , , or .

In this section, we will use the fraction notation. When a ratio is written in fraction form, the fraction should be simplified. If it is an improper fraction, we do not change it to a mixed number. Because a ratio compares two quantities, we would leave a ratio as instead of simplifying it to so that we can see the two parts of the ratio.

Example 5.58: Write each ratio as a fraction.

Write each ratio as a fraction of whole numbers:

1. ⓐ to
2. ⓑ to

Solution:

ⓐ to
Write as a fraction with the first number in the numerator and the second number in the denominator.
Simplify the fraction.

ⓑ to
Write as a fraction with the first number in the numerator and the second number in the denominator.
Simplify.

We leave the ratio in ⓑ as an improper fraction.

Applications of Ratios

One real-world application of ratios that affects many people involves measuring cholesterol in blood. The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol is one way doctors assess a person’s overall health. A ratio of less to is considered good.

Example 5.6.1

Hector’s total cholesterol is mg/dl and his HDL cholesterol is mg/dl.

• ⓐ Find the ratio of his total cholesterol to his HDL cholesterol.
• ⓑ Assuming that a ratio less than to is considered good, what would you suggest to Hector?

Solution:

ⓐ First, write the words that express the ratio. We want to know the ratio of Hector’s total cholesterol to his HDL cholesterol.

Write as a fraction.
Substitute Hector’s values.
Simplify the fraction.

ⓑ Is Hector’s cholesterol ratio ok? If we divide by , we obtain approximately , so .

Now compare Hector’s value to the ratio that is considered good: .

Hector’s cholesterol ratio is high! Hector should either lower his total cholesterol or raise his HDL cholesterol.

Ratios of Two Measurements in Different Units

To find the ratio of two measurements, we must make sure the quantities have been measured with the same unit. If the measurements are not in the same units, we must first convert them to the same units.

We know that to simplify a fraction, we divide out common factors. Similarly, in a ratio of measurements, we divide out the common unit.

Example 5.6.2

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Guidelines for wheelchair ramps require a maximum vertical rise of inch for every foot of horizontal run. What is the ratio of the rise to the run?

Solution:

In a ratio, the measurements must be in the same units. We can change feet to inches, or inches to feet. It is usually easier to convert to the smaller unit, since this avoids introducing more fractions into the problem.

Write the words that express the ratio.

We need:	Ratio of the rise to the run.
Write the ratio as a fraction.
Substitute in the ADA’s values.
Convert 1 foot to inches, the smaller unit.
Simplify the fraction, dividing out common factors and common units.

So the ratio of rise to run is to . This means that the ramp should rise inch for every inches of horizontal run to comply with the guidelines.

Write a Rate as a Fraction

Frequently, we want to compare two different types of measurements, such as miles to gallons. To make this comparison, we use a rate. Examples of rates are miles in hours, words in minutes, and dollars per ounces.

When writing a fraction as a rate, we put the first given amount with its units in the numerator and the second amount with its units in the denominator. When rates are simplified, the units remain in the numerator and denominator.

Example 5.6.3

Bob drove his car 525 miles in 9 hours. Write this rate as a fraction.

Solution:

Write down the rate.	525 miles in 9 hours
Write as a fraction, with 525 miles in the numerator and 9 hours in the denominator.
Simplify the fraction, dividing out common factors.

So miles in hours is equivalent to .

Find Unit Rates

In the last example, we calculated that Bob was driving at a rate of . This tells us that every three hours, Bob will travel miles. miles. This is correct, but not very useful. We usually want the rate to reflect the number of miles in one hour. A rate with a denominator of unit is referred to as a unit rate.

Unit rates are very common in our lives. For example, when we say that we are driving at a speed of 68 miles per hour, we mean that we travel 68 miles in 1 hour. We would write this rate as 68 miles/hour (read “68 miles per hour”). The common abbreviation for this is 68 mph. Note that when no number is written before a unit, it is assumed to be 1.

So 68 miles/hour really means 68 miles/1 hour.

Two rates we often use when driving can be written in different forms, as shown:

Example	Rate	Write	Abbreviate	Read
miles in hour		miles/hour	68 mph	68 miles per hour
miles to gallon		miles/gallon	36 mpg	36 miles per gallon

Another example of unit rate that you may already know about is hourly pay rate. It is usually expressed as the amount of money earned for one hour of work. For example, if you are paid  for each hour you work, you could write that your hourly (unit) pay rate is /hour (read “ per hour”).

To convert a rate to a unit rate, we divide the numerator by the denominator. This gives us a denominator of .

Example 5.6.4

Anita was paid last week for working hours.

Solution:

Start with a rate of dollars to hours.	last week for hours
Write as a rate.
Divide the numerator by the denominator.
Rewrite as a rate	/hour

Anita’s hourly pay rate is /hour.

Try It: Find unit rates (dollars per hour).

Example 5.6.5

Sven drives his car miles, using  gallons of gasoline. How many miles per gallon does his car get?

Solution:

Start with a rate of miles to gallons.	miles to gallons of gas
Write as a rate.
Divide 455 by 14 to get the unit rate.

Sven’s car gets miles/gallon, or mpg.

Try It: Find Unit Rates (miles per gallon). 

Translate Phrases to Expressions with Fractions

Have you noticed that the examples in this section used the comparison words ratio of, to, per, in, for, on, and from? When you translate phrases that include these words, you should think either ratio or rate. If the units measure the same quantity (length, time, etc.), you have a ratio. If the units are different, you have a rate. In both cases, you write a fraction.

Example 5.6.8

Translate the word phrase into an algebraic expression. In all 3 examples, the units measure different quantities, so the expression will be a rate.

1. ⓐ miles per hours
2. ⓑ students to teachers
3. ⓒ dollars for hours

Solution:

ⓐ	miles per hours
Write as a rate.

ⓑ	students to teachers
Write as a rate.

ⓒ	dollars for hours
Write as a rate.

Try It: Translate word phrases into algebraic expressions with fractions.

Practice Makes Perfect

Write a Ratio as a Fraction

Practice writing ratios as fractions.

Write a Rate as a Fraction

Practice writing rates as fractions.

Find Unit Rates

Practice finding unit rates.

Translate Phrases to Expressions with Fractions

Practice translating phrases to expressions with fractions.

Self Check

After completing the exercises, use this table to evaluate your mastery of the objectives of this section. For each skill listed in a table row, rate yourself in the column that best describes your confidence level.

Ratios Self-Check

I can …	Confidently	With some help	No – I don’t get it!
write a ratio as a fraction.
write a rate as a fraction.
find unit rates.
translate phrases to expressions with fractions.

If most of your checks were:

• …confidently. Congratulations! You have achieved the objectives in this section. Reflect on the study skills you used so that you can continue to use them. What did you do to become confident in your ability to do these things? Be specific.
• …with some help. This must be addressed quickly because topics you do not master become potholes in your road to success. In math, and in nursing, every topic builds upon previous work. It is important to ensure you have a strong foundation before you move on. Who can you ask for help? Is there a place on campus where math tutors are available? Can your study skills be improved?
• …no—I don’t get it! This is a warning sign and you must not ignore it. You should get help right away or you will quickly be overwhelmed. See your instructor, student success specialist, or math tutor as soon as you can to discuss your situation. Together you can come up with a plan to get you the help you need.

Chapter Attributions

This chapter was adapted by Corinn Herrell and Cheryl Colan from “5.6 Ratios and Rate” in Prealgebra 2e by Lynn Marecek, MaryAnne Anthony-Smith, and Andrea Honeycutt Mathis. Licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license.