a:b as c:a. If a = 1, what is b?

Question

I realllllllly neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed help with this equation. It's extremely important.

Answer 1

a:b as c:a. If a = 1, what is b?

a/b = c/a   .......1/b=c/1 ......b = 1/c

Unless we have more info on the problem, then as it stands now, b depends on the value of c, and can be any number except 0.

If c = 1/4, b=4

If c=1/5, b=5

Answer 2

Hi Dynasty,

 

Another way to write the problem is a/b = c/a (this is called a proportion, i.e. the equality of two ratios).

 

If we replace "a" with a value of 1, we have 1/b = c/1. There are a few ways to get from here to isolating the variable b, but the simplest is probably to "cross-multiply", giving bc = 1. Now divide both sides by c to isolate the variable b.

 

Finally, b = 1/c.