Find ONE first
The easiest way to solve most proportion questions is to work out the value of one, then multiply.
3 pens cost 90p. How much do 5 pens cost?
- One pen: 90p ÷ 3 = 30p
- Five pens: 30p × 5 = £1.50
Scaling recipes
If the number of people doubles, every ingredient doubles.
| Pancakes for | 2 people | 4 people | 6 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flour | 100 g | 200 g | 300 g |
| Eggs | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Milk | 150 ml | 300 ml | 450 ml |
Rates
A rate tells you how much of something for each one of something else:
- 60 miles per hour means 60 miles in each hour → in 3 hours: 60 × 3 = 180 miles
- £8 per hour means £8 for each hour worked
Watch out! Going from 4 people to 6 people does not mean adding 2 to every amount. Find the amount for one person, then multiply.
Top tip: in money questions, change pounds to pence to make the dividing easier. £2.40 = 240p.
🎮 Scale it upQuestion 1 of 5
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