Writing ratios

Ratios are similar to fractions; they can both be simplified by finding common factors. Always try to divide by the highest common factor.

To make pastry you may need to mix 2 parts flour to 1 part fat.
This means the ratio of flour to fat is 2:1.

It is sometimes useful to write a ratio in the form 1:n or n:1 (where n is any number, possibly a fraction or decimal). This means we will not necessarily be dealing with whole numbers.

If we are asked to write the ratio 2:5 in the form 1:n, we need to make the left-hand side of the ratio equal to 1. We do this by dividing both sides of the ratio by 2.
2:5 = 2/2 : 5/2
= 1 : 2.5

	Created by megan johnson about 10 years ago

a set of notes on ratio