Simplest Form of a Ratio | Properties | Class 7 Maths – Comparing Quantities

Table of Contents

• Properties of Ratio
• Simplest Form of a Ratio
• Summary
• What’s Next?

In the previous segment, we had looked at Ratios. In this segment of the chapter ‘Comparing Quantities’, we will learn about the simplest form of ratios.

Properties of a ratio

Property 1:

If the numerator and denominator of a ratio are multiplied by the same number, then the value of the ratio remains unchanged.

For example,

Consider ². If the numerator and denominator of this ratio are multiplied by 2, we get ^2×2 = 4.

3

Here, ratios ² and ⁴ have equal values.

3×2 6

3 6

Similarly, let us multiply the numerator and the denominator of ² by 3. We will get ^2×3 = 6.

Here, the ratios ² ??? 6

have equal values.

3 3×3 9

3 9

Thus we can say ² , 4 , ??? 6 all are equal ratios.

3 6 9

Property 2:

If the numerator and denominator of a ratio are divided by the same number, then the value of the ratio remains unchanged. For example,

Consider ¹⁶. If the numerator and denominator of this ratio are divided by 2, we get ^16÷2 = 8.

12 12÷2 6

Here, the values of ¹⁶ and ⁸ are equal. Now, let us divide ¹⁶ by 4. Then we have ^16÷4 = 4.

Here,

12 6 12 12÷4 3

the values of ¹⁶ and ⁴ are equal.

12 3

Thus we can say ¹⁶ , 8 ,and ⁴ all are equal ratios.

12 6 3