Use the given tables to compare the ratio of 16:18 and 5:6. Which ratio is greater?

Top table starts at eight and nine and 32 and 36. Bottom tables starts at five and six and ends at 20 and 24.
• need to be added to the tables to be able to compare the ratios
•5:6 is greater
•16:18 is greater
• The two ratios are equal

1 answer

To compare the two ratios of 16:18 and 5:6, we can simplify both ratios and find a common basis to evaluate them.

  1. Simplifying the ratios:

    • The ratio 16:18 can be simplified by dividing both numbers by their greatest common divisor (GCD), which is 2.

      • \( 16 ÷ 2 = 8 \)
      • \( 18 ÷ 2 = 9 \)
      • So, 16:18 simplifies to 8:9.
    • The ratio 5:6 is already in its simplest form and remains 5:6.

  2. Finding a common basis to compare:

    • The simplest way to compare ratios is to convert them into decimal form:
      • For 8:9, \( 8 ÷ 9 ≈ 0.888 \)
      • For 5:6, \( 5 ÷ 6 ≈ 0.833 \)
  3. Comparison:

    • Since 0.888 (from 8:9) is greater than 0.833 (from 5:6), we can conclude that:
      • The ratio 16:18 (or 8:9) is greater than the ratio 5:6.

In conclusion, 16:18 is greater than 5:6.