The Algebra Teacher\'s Guide to Reteaching Essential Concepts and Skills

Name Date

WORKSHEET 2.14: WRITING AND SOLVING PROPORTIONS

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A proportion is a statement that two ratios are equal. The units of the first term of each ratio

must be the same and the units of the second term of each ratio must be the same.

EXAMPLE

A 6-ounce can of almonds contains 148 almonds. About how many almonds would you expect

to find in a 10-ounce can? To write this proportion, you must compare almonds to ounces.

almonds

ounces

→

148

6

=

x

10

In each ratio, almonds are the first term and ounces are the second.

148 × 10 = 6 x

1480 = 6 x

x= 246

2

3

x≈ 247

DIRECTIONS: Write and solve proportions for each situation.

1. Bekka can type about sixty words per minute. At that rate, how many words can she
   type in fifteen minutes?


2. Twenty tea bags cost $2.99. Find the cost of one tea bag. Round your answer to the
   nearest cent.


3. At a factory, 4 out of every 96 CD cases were defective. At that rate, how many CD cases
   would you expect to be defective if 1,152 cases were produced?


4. Sue ran a 5-km (3.1-mi) race at an average rate of 8.5 minutes per mile. How long did it
   take her to run the race?

CHALLENGE:Luis can read about 250 words per minute. Would he be able to

read a 3,650-word article in fifteen minutes? Explain your answer.

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Copyright

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2011 by Judith A. Muschla, Gary Robert Muschla, and Erin Muschla. All rights reserved.