What is a ratio?

A ratio is fundamentally a comparison of two quantities, and it specifically involves division. When you create a ratio, you express how many times one quantity contains or is contained within the other. This is typically written in the form of a fraction, using division, which allows for the comparison to be easily understood. For example, if you have 4 apples and 2 oranges, the ratio of apples to oranges can be expressed as 4/2, which simplifies to 2.

This concept is important in various contexts, such as in cooking, where ingredient proportions are compared, or in financial contexts, where one may compare incomes versus expenses. Understanding how to compare two quantities through division is essential for interpreting and analyzing data effectively.