A ratio compares two quantities by showing the relationship between them. Ratios can be written as 3:4, 3 to 4, or 3/4. Understanding ratios is essential for cooking, mixing, scaling, and many real-world applications where proportional relationships matter.

Simplifying ratios works just like simplifying fractions. The ratio 6:8 simplifies to 3:4 by dividing both numbers by their greatest common factor. Equivalent ratios represent the same relationship — 1:2 is the same as 2:4 is the same as 5:10.

Ratio tables help students see patterns in equivalent ratios. If the ratio of red to blue paint is 2:3, a ratio table shows: 2:3, 4:6, 6:9, 8:12. This organized approach helps students solve problems and identify the multiplicative relationship between quantities.

Unit rates are ratios with a denominator of 1. Speed (miles per hour), price (dollars per item), and density (grams per cubic centimeter) are all unit rates. Finding and comparing unit rates is a practical skill used in shopping, cooking, and science.