Ratio Question

[gogogadget]

The problem:

If the ratio of 2x to 5y is 3 to 4, what is the ratio of x to y?

I took the problem and wrote it out as:

2x/3 = 5y/4 and treated it like a proportion problem and cross-multiplied. I took (2x) (4) and (5y) (3) and got a ratio of 8 to 15. When I looked at the answer in my book, the answer was shown as being the reverse, 15 to 8. I'm not quite sure why this was the case or how I got it backwards. Any help is appreciated!

 

[Deleted member 4993]

The problem:

If the ratio of 2x to 5y is 3 to 4, what is the ratio of x to y?

I took the problem and wrote it out as:

2x/3 = 5y/4 and treated it like a proportion problem and cross-multiplied. I took (2x) (4) and (5y) (3) and got a ratio of 8 to 15. When I looked at the answer in my book, the answer was shown as being the reverse, 15 to 8. I'm not quite sure why this was the case or how I got it backwards. Any help is appreciated!

(2x)/(5y) = 3/4

(2x)/(5y) * (5/2) = (3/4) * (5/2)

(x)/(y) = (3/4) * (5/2)

Now finish it.....