Proportion Word Problems Practice Questions

To review these concepts, go to Proportion Word Problems Study Guide.

Proportion Word Problems Practice Questions

Practice 1

Problems

Circle true or false for each statement that follows.

1.	The proportion is a true proportion.	True	False
2.	The proportion is a true proportion.	True	False
3.	In the proportion , x = 3 makes a true proportion.	True	False
4.	In the proportion , x = 5 makes a true proportion.	True	False

Solutions

True; each cross product is equal to 90.
False; the cross products are 39 and 48, and they are not equal.
False; use x = 4 to make it a true proportion.
True. When x = 5, each of the cross products is 120.

Practice 2

Problems

If the scale on a map is 1 inch = 100 miles, what is the actual distance between two locations 3 inches apart on the map?
The scale on a map is inch = 15 miles. How far apart on a map are two cities that are actually located 150 miles apart?
The height of a window on a scale drawing is 1.5 inches. If the scale is 1 inch = 4 feet, what is the actual height of the window?

Solutions

The proportion could be set up as:

Cross multiply the means and the extremes, and solve the equation.

The actual distance between the two locations is 300 miles.

The proportion could be set up as:

Cross multiply the means and the extremes, and solve the equation.

The distance on the map between the two locations is 5 inches.

The proportion could be set up as:

Cross multiply the means and the extremes, and solve the equation.

The actual height of the window is 6 feet.

Practice 3

Problems

Justine ran the first 6 miles of a 10-mile race in 48 minutes. At this pace, how long will it take her to run the entire 10 miles?
Harold makes $204 when he works a shift of 5 hours. How long does he need to work in order to make $326.40?
The scale on a drawing is 1 inch = 12 inches. If the length of a wall on the drawing is 9 inches, what is the actual length of the wall?
The ratio of flour to salt in a recipe for molding dough is 4:1. If Sam is using 2 cups of salt in his mixture, how many cups of flour should he use?

Solutions

Read and understand the question. This question is looking for the total number of minutes it will take to run 10 miles. The time it took to run 6 miles is given.

Make a plan. To solve this problem, use a proportion and line up the corresponding labels to put the values in the correct places.

Carry out the plan. The proportion could be set up as:

Notice how the labels match up to help place the values correctly.

Cross multiply the means and the extremes, and solve the equation.

At the same rate, it would take her 80 minutes.

Check your answer. Substitute into the proportion to check that it is a true proportion:

The cross products are each 480. This solution is checking.

Read and understand the question. This question is looking for the total number of hours it will take to make $326.40. The time it took to earn $204 is given.

Make a plan. To solve this problem, use a proportion and line up the corresponding labels to put the values in the correct places.

Carry out the plan. The proportion could be set up as:

Line up the labels to help place the values correctly.

Cross multiply the means and the extremes, and solve the equation.

At the same rate, it would take Harold 8 hours to make $326.40.

Check your answer. Substitute into the proportion to check that it is a true proportion:

The cross products are each 1,632. This solution is checking.

Read and understand the question. This question is looking for the actual length of a wall. The length on a scale drawing is given.

Make a plan. To solve this problem, use a proportion and line up the corresponding labels to put the values in the correct places.

Carry out the plan. The proportion could be set up as:

Notice how the labels match up to help place the values correctly.

Cross multiply the means and the extremes, and solve the equation.

The actual length is 108 inches.

Check your answer. Substitute into the proportion to check that it is a true proportion:

The cross products are each 108. This solution is checking.

Read and understand the question. This question is looking for the total amount of flour needed. The ratio needed is given in the problem.

Make a plan. To solve this problem, use a proportion and line up the corresponding labels to put the values in the correct places.

Carry out the plan. The proportion could be set up as:

Cross multiply the means and the extremes, and solve the equation.

A total of 8 cups of flour are needed.

Check your answer. Substitute into the proportion to check that it is a true proportion

Each cross product is 8. This solution is checking.

« prev page
1
2
next page »

View Full Article

Proportion Word Problems Practice Questions