The Cross Products Property, also known as the cross-multiplication or the proportionality property, states that in an equation involving two fractions or ratios, the product of the means (the middle terms) is equal to the product of the extremes (the outer terms). This property is especially useful for solving problems involving proportions.
The cross products property can be expressed as:
(a/b) = (c/d) if and only if a*d = b*c
Example:
Let's say we have the following proportion:
(2/3) = (x/6)
Using the cross products property, we would cross-multiply and get:
2*6 = 3*x
12 = 3x
Now, solving for x:
x = 4
So, the proportion holds true: (2/3) = (4/6).
cross products property
definition and example
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