What is it
Ratio compares the relative sizes of two or more quantities (like mixing paint in a ratio of 2:1), while proportion describes how quantities change together — if one doubles, so does the other.
Why it matters
Ratio and proportion appear constantly in real life — recipes, scale drawings, exchange rates — and they're a direct stepping stone to GCSE topics like similar shapes, speed calculations, and compound measures.
Exam tip
Draw a simple bar model or use counters to represent each part of a ratio — visualising the parts prevents the common mistake of dividing the total incorrectly.
Related topics
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