Organize equivalent ratios in a table to find patterns and solve problems
What Is a Ratio Table?
A ratio table lists pairs of numbers that all share the same ratio. Each row is an equivalent ratio. You build it by multiplying (or dividing) both columns by the same number.
Lemonade recipe: 2 cups sugar to 5 cups water
Sugar
Water
2
5
4
10
6
15
8
20
10
25
Every row maintains the 2:5 ratio.
How to Build One
Start with the given ratio in row 1. Multiply both values by 2 for row 2, by 3 for row 3, etc. Or add the original ratio values to each row: 2→4→6→8 and 5→10→15→20.
Using a Ratio Table to Solve Problems
If 3 tickets cost $12, how much do 7 tickets cost?
Tickets
Cost
3
$12
1
$4
7
$28
Find the cost per ticket: $12 ÷ 3 = $4
Multiply for 7 tickets: $4 × 7 = $28
💡 Strategy: If the target number doesn't multiply cleanly from the original, find the unit rate first (divide to get the "per 1" value), then multiply up.
🎯 Practice Problems
1. Complete the table: If 2:6, then 5:?
A) 10
B) 11
C) 15
D) 30
2. A recipe uses 3 eggs per 2 cups of flour. How many eggs for 8 cups of flour?
A) 6
B) 10
C) 12
D) 16
3. If 4 pens cost $6, how much do 10 pens cost?
A) $10
B) $12
C) $15
D) $20
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🎯 Bonus Practice
1. Complete the ratio table: 5:8 = 15:?
A) 18
B) 20
C) 24
D) 40
2. If 6 workers finish a job in 12 hours, how long for 2 workers? (Assume equal rate.)
A) 4 hours
B) 6 hours
C) 36 hours
D) 24 hours
3. A map scale is 1:50,000. If two cities are 3 cm apart on the map, what is the real distance?
A) 150,000 cm
B) 50,000 cm
C) 15,000 cm
D) 3 cm
4. If 7:3 = 21:?, what is the missing number?
A) 6
B) 9
C) 7
D) 14
5. A car travels 180 miles on 6 gallons. How far on 10 gallons?