Comparing Quantities Using Ratios and Fractions

MatholiaChannel

This educational video provides a clear, step-by-step introduction to understanding and calculating ratios. Through three distinct examples—flower colors and building heights—it demonstrates how to compare quantities using both ratio notation (2:4) and fraction notation (1/2). The video moves from simple visual counting exercises to more complex word problems that require calculating totals before determining the ratio. Key mathematical themes include differentiating between part-to-part ratios (comparing one group to another) and part-to-whole ratios (comparing a group to the total). It emphasizes the importance of simplifying ratios to their lowest terms, similar to simplifying fractions, and explicitly connects the concept of ratios to fractions to help students see the relationship between the two forms of representation. For educators, this resource serves as an excellent visual aid for introducing the concept of ratios or reviewing how to simplify them. The clear animations allow teachers to pause and ask students to predict the ratio or the simplified form before it is revealed. The progression from simple counting to a multi-step real-world application (the office building) makes it suitable for scaffolded instruction in upper elementary and middle school mathematics classrooms.