1. Section 1

1.25. Refresher

Mathematics 20-3 Module 3

Section 1: Slope—Physical Objects

 

Refresher

 

If you don’t know the answers in Are You Ready?, or require more information, then use the following information to review concepts.

 

This play button opens an interactive activity on percentages and fractions.

To review percentages, go to Percent.

This play button opens an interactive activity on decimals.

For help with decimals, go to Decimals.

 



In addition to being written in fraction or decimal form, slope can also be written as a ratio. Look at the following example of ratio notation to see a number of ways ratio can be expressed. (This material comes from an Individual Learning Module for carpentry. You can check out the whole document at Calculating Ratio and Proportion, Mechanical Advantage and Percentage if you are interested.)


Ratio Notation

 

Suppose you are comparing the ratio of hammers (2) to screwdrivers (6) in your toolbox.

 

Two hammers and six screwdrivers expressed as a ratio.

 

The ratio can be stated in one of three common ways:

  • 2 to 6,

  • 2:6 and

All of these ratios are read the same way: the ratio is 2 to 6.

 

Because a ratio can be expressed as a fraction, it can also be reduced to its simplest terms. Reducing the ratio of to its simplest terms gives you . This means that there is 1 hammer for every 3 screwdrivers in your toolbox.

 

Note
The order in a ratio matters: a ratio of 1:3 is not the same as 3:1.

 

Go back to Are You Ready? and try the questions again. Contact your teacher if you continue to have difficulty with the questions.