math for school

Question

There are 8 female teachers and 13 male teachers at Vijay's high school. What is the ratio of the number of female teachers to the number of male teachers?

Write your answer as two numbers separated by a colon (for example, 2:3).

Answer 1

Let's say the ratio of apples to oranges in a bag is 3 to 4. That does not mean there are exactly 3 apples and exactly 4 oranges. The numbers could be 6 and 8; or 12 and 16.

Ratios can be written using the semicolon or the fraction bar.

So 3:4 can be written as 3/4 too. Notice that 6/8 reduces to 3/4 and so does 12/16.

For the posted problem the ratio of female to male teachers is 8 to 13. Using the semicolon, 8:13. Using a fraction bar 8/13.

If a different school has the same ratio, it could be that there are 16 females and 26 males (still an 8 to 13 ratio).