how do you find if a ratio can form a proportion?

Question

I have a list of ratios and I would lke to know how to form it into a proportion.

Answer 1

Most proportions are equivalencies, like 1 foot = 12 inches.

If there is an equivalency you can form a proportion, if not you can't. An example of something that would not work is changing feet into Liters. In order for a length to be turned into a volume you would have to multiply it by itself 3 times (end up with ft³).

OK:  ft to in

NOT: ft to L

OK: ft³ to L

Then you have to make sure the numbers are correct, you put the 1 with the ft and the 12 with the inches.

Ways to write out proportions are:

with a "=" in between

with the word "to" in between

with a ":" inbetween

as a fraction