Ratios decrease by multiplying the original quantity by a fraction where the numerator is smaller than the denominator. This effectively reduces the original quantity proportionally.
Understanding Decreasing Ratios
When dealing with ratios, decreasing them involves scaling down the quantities involved while maintaining the original proportion. This is achieved using multiplication.
Methods for Decreasing Ratios
The key to decreasing a ratio lies in using a fraction less than 1. Here's how it works, according to the provided YouTube reference:
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Express the Decrease as a Fraction: Identify the desired decrease and represent it as a fraction where the numerator is smaller than the denominator. For example, if you want to decrease a quantity, you might use a fraction like 1/5.
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Multiply by the Fraction: Multiply the original quantity by the fraction you determined in the previous step. This will result in a smaller quantity, thus decreasing the ratio.
Example:
Let's say you have a quantity of 500, and you want to decrease it according to a ratio of 1:5.
- Step 1: Express the decrease as a fraction: 1/5
- Step 2: Multiply the original quantity by the fraction: 500 * (1/5) = 100
Therefore, decreasing 500 in the ratio of 1:5 results in 100.
Practical Application
This method is useful in various scenarios, such as:
- Scaling down recipes: Adjusting ingredient quantities while maintaining the same flavor profile.
- Reducing model sizes: Creating smaller versions of objects while preserving their proportions.
- Calculating discounts: Determining the price after a percentage decrease.
By following these steps, you can effectively decrease ratios and apply them to a wide range of situations.
