AQA GCSE · Question 12 · Ratio Proportion and Rates of Change
Write the ratio 6 : 2 in the form n : 1
How to approach this question
To get the ratio into the form n : 1, you need to make the right-hand side of the ratio equal to 1.
The current ratio is 6 : 2.
To change the 2 into a 1, you must divide it by 2.
To keep the ratio equivalent, you must do the same to the left-hand side.
Divide both sides by 2:
6 ÷ 2 = 3
2 ÷ 2 = 1
The new ratio is 3 : 1.
Full Answer
A ratio compares the sizes of two or more values. The ratio 6 : 2 means for every 6 of the first quantity, there are 2 of the second. To express this in the form n : 1, we need to find out how much of the first quantity corresponds to just 1 of the second quantity.
We start with the ratio 6 : 2.
We want the second number to be 1. To turn 2 into 1, we must divide by 2.
To maintain the same proportional relationship, we must also divide the first number by 2.
6 ÷ 2 = 3
2 ÷ 2 = 1
So the equivalent ratio is 3 : 1. Here, n = 3.
Common mistakes
✗ Dividing the wrong way, e.g., 2 ÷ 6, giving 1/3 : 1.\n✗ Not dividing the left side, giving 6 : 1.
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