How do you divide quantities in a given ratio? - Answers

The first part of this answer is algebraic; see the example below for how it works out in practice. Suppose you have a total quantity N that you want to divide in the ratio a:b:c. Add a, b and c that is, a+b+c = s. Calulate N/s, the value of each unit in the ratio. then a*(N/s), b*(N/s) and c*(N/s) are the required amounts. Example: Divide 60 sweets in the ratio 2:3:5 N = 60 s = 2+3+5 = 10 therefore N/s = 60/10 = 6. [Therefore, each 1 in the ratio is worth 6 sweets]. The required division of the sweets is 2*6, 3*6 and 5*6 = 12, 18 and 30. This process can be extended to dividing quantities into ratios comprising four or more numbers in an analogous fashion.