Language in mathematics

Creative writing
Select one of the following topics as the basis of a creative writing exercise of approximately 700–750 words.
Topics could include:
• Less is best?
• I’m shrinking! Help!
• At this rate, we’ll never get there!
• Comparisons can be misleading and confusing.

Terms
comparison distance enlarge equivalent express interval
part quantity rate ratio reduce scale factor
simplify speed time unitary

Check your skills

1 In this diagram the ratio of moons to stars is:
A 7:3 B 3:7
C 3 : 10 D 7 : 10

2 Paul weighs 62 kg, Robert weighs 94 kg and Harry weighs 84 kg. The simplified ratio of Paul’s weight to
Robert’s weight to Harry’s weight is:
A 62 : 94 : 84 B 31 : 47 : 42 C 31 : 94 : 42 D 62 : 47 : 42
4
3 In a bag of lollies containing Smarties and jubes, __
11 of the lollies are Smarties. What is the ratio of Smarties
to jubes?
A 11 : 4 B 4 : 11 C 4:7 D 7:4

4 For the ratio 11 : 13, which fraction will express the first part as a fraction of the whole?
11 24 11 13
A ___
24
B ___
11
C ___
13
D ___
11
22
5 The fraction ___ shows the first part of a ratio as a fraction of the whole. What is the ratio?
25
A 22 : 3 B 22 : 25 C 22 : 47 D 3 : 22
4 x
6 Determine the value of x if __ = ____.
9 117
A 263.25 B 52 C 29.25 D 13
NUMBER & ALGEBRA

144 18
7 Find the value of y if ____ = ___
y.
200
A 25 B 13.89 C 12.96 D 0.04

8 The ratio that is equivalent to 2_12 : 3_14 : 6 is:

A 5 : 6.5 : 12 B 2:3:6 C 10 : 13 : 24 D 7 : 8 : 16

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9 Simplify 0.015 : 0.3 : 4.5.
A 1:2:3 B 1 : 20 : 300 C 1 : 2 : 30 D 1 : 20 : 30

10 The ratio of cordial to water is 1 : 20. If 8.2 mL of cordial is used, the volume of water required is:
A 164 mL B 2.4 mL C 0.41 mL D 135 mL

11 The ratio of dogs to cats to birds is 15 : 13 : 2. How many cats are there if there are 180 dogs?
A 208 cats B 237 cats C 143 cats D 156 cats

12 Which point divides the line segment AU into the ratio 1 : 4?

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U
A E B Q C J D P

13 Divide 2.5 L into the ratio 13 : 28 : 9.

A 37.5 mL : 70 mL : 22.5 mL B 6.5 mL : 14 mL : 4.5 mL
C 650 mL : 1400 mL : 450 mL D 65 mL : 140 mL : 45 mL

14 Calculate the cost of a phone call lasting 18 min and 20 s at a rate of 52c/min.
A $9.46 B $9.48 C $9.53 D $9.52

15 Two towns are 43.5 km apart. What would be the distance between the two towns on a map if the map uses a
scale of 1 : 250 000?
A 0.174 cm B 1.74 cm C 17.4 cm D 174 cm

If you have any difficulty with these questions, refer to the examples and questions in the section listed
in the table.

Question 1–5 6–9 10, 11 12, 13 14 15

Section A B C D E F

2A Review set
1 What is a ratio?

2 In a class of 28 students there are 17 boys. Write the ratio of boys to girls.

3 Express each ratio in its simplest form.

a 12 : 30 b 84 : 108

4 Find the value of x when 3 : 7 = x : 42.

5 Divide $1000 in the ratio 4 : 6.

NUMBER & ALGEBRA

6 Divide 24.6 m into the ratio 2 : 3 : 1.

7 Susan speaks to Clara for 29 m and 42 s. Calculate the cost of the phone call if it is charged at 49c/min or
part thereof.

8 A car travels at a speed of 112.6 km/h for 3_14 hours. Calculate the distance travelled.

46 Insight Mathematics 8 Australian Curriculum

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9 A map has a scale of 1 : 250. Convert the following scale distances to real distances.
a 13 cm b 22.1 cm

10 The ratio of the size of a model

to the size of the real building
is 1 : 200. If the model has a
30 mm
height of 30 mm, find the actual
height of the building in metres.

2B Review set
1 Why do ratios not have units?

2 A bag contains mints and fruities. If there are 18 lollies, of which 11 are mints, write the ratio of mints
to fruities.

3 Express each ratio in its simplest form.

a 15 : 45 b 126 : 231

4 Find the value of y if 8 : 13 = 64 : y.

5 Divide 1250 kg in the ratio 3 : 5.

6 Calculate the cost of fuel for a 381.3 km trip if petrol costs $1.52/L and Tim’s car travels 8.2 km/L.

7 Sarah bets $130 on a horse at odds of 10/1. How much would she receive if the horse won?

8 A train travels a distance of 725.2 km at a speed of 168 km/h. How long does the journey take?

9 A map has a scale of 1 : 80. Convert the following real distances to scale distances.
a 8.8 m b 36 m

10 A map has a scale of 1 : 500 000. If the distance between two towns on the map is 5.3 cm, what is the actual
distance between the two towns?

2C Review set
1 Express in simplest form 25 min : 1_14 hours.

2 The ratio that is equivalent to 3 : 5 is:

A 21 : 36 B 45 : 75
4 7
3 Find x when __x = __5.
NUMBER & ALGEBRA

4 Simplify the following ratios.

a 25 cm : 0.6 m b 360 m : 0.5 km

5 On an excursion, the ratio of teachers to students is 2 : 11. Calculate the number of students if there are
10 teachers.

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6 A triangle has side lengths in the ratio 2 : 5 : 4.
a If the shortest side is 12.4 cm, find the lengths of the two remaining sides.
b Calculate the total length of the sides of the triangle.

7 Ian jogs 3.5 km in 20 minutes. Express this as a rate of km/min.

8 Which is the better buy?

A 1.2 L of Fizz Whiz Cola at $1.05 B 2.5 L of Fizz Whiz Cola at $2.20

9 The scale of a model aeroplane is 1 : 120. If the wingspan of the model is 17 cm, calculate the actual
wingspan.

10 The actual height of a building is 825 m. If a model of the building is constructed using a scale of 1 : 1500,
calculate the height of the model.

2D Review set
1 Express this ratio in simplest form: 1.2 m : 18 cm.
5 3
2 Find y when __y = __.
4
3 Divide $5000 in the ratio 9 : 6 : 5.

4 Joe buys a bike for $870 and later sells it for $935. Express the following as a ratio.
a cost price : selling price b profit : selling price

5 The length and breadth of a rectangle are in the ratio 11 : 3.

a Find the length of the rectangle if the breadth is 7.5 cm.
b Find the breadth of the rectangle if the length is 57.2 cm.

6 If 15 oranges cost $6.30, then the cost per orange is ____ cents.

7 Which is the better buy?

A 500 g of cat food at $5.25 B 750 g of cat food at $7.80

8 On a particular day the $A is worth $US0.92. Calculate the value of $US1400 on that day.

9 If water costs 23c/kL, calculate the cost of 940 kL.

10 a Use your ruler to determine the scale of the line drawn.

0 40 km
b If two towns are 12.3 cm apart on a map that uses the scale above, what is the actual distance
between them?
NUMBER & ALGEBRA

48 Insight Mathematics 8 Australian Curriculum

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