Question P6 Forming and simplifying ratios
Today’s problem — free all day, every step. Every day has one.
There are 24 red beads and 32 blue beads. Write the ratio of red beads to blue beads.
Answer
24 : 32 (equivalently 3 : 4)
Forming and simplifying ratios
Keep the quantities in order and divide both by the same number.
In this one. The order in the question matters: red first, blue second. Both quantities count beads, so they already use the same unit.
The question names two quantities in a stated order, red to blue, or gives an existing ratio to reduce. Words like 'ratio' and 'simplest form' give it away.
Children write the numbers in the order they appear in the story rather than the order the question asks for. When simplifying, they divide only one of the two numbers instead of both.
Worked examples of all 33 patterns and skills, in a booklet you can print.