Setting up and Solving Proportional Equations

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

We are learning to…solve problems that involve proportional reasoning.

What is a proportion?

Proportion – two ratios (comparisons) that are equal. Example:

Charlie makes 5 phone calls in 2 days. How many phone calls will he make in 12 days?

Table: Proportion:

Calls Days

5 2

x 12

5 calls

2 days calls

12 days

x

Use your equation solving skills to find the solution of the proportion below.5 calls calls

2 days 12 days

x

5

2 12

x

5

2 12

x (12)(12) 12 5 60

6030

2 30x

Charlie will make 30 phone calls in 12 days

Practice Problem #1 A pipe leaks 7 quarts of water in 6 hours. At this rate how much

water will the pipe leak in 10 hours?

Table: Proportion: Solution:

Quarts Hours

7 6

X 10

7 quarts quarts =

6 hours 10 hours

x

(10)(10)

211 quarts

3x

The pipe will leak 11 and 2/3 quarts of water in 10

hours.

7 quarts quarts =

6 hours 10 hours

x

10 7 7070 6

411 ?

6

Practice Problem #2 Xavier sends 52 text messages in 4 days. At this rate how many

text messages will he send in 7 days?

Table: Proportion: Solution:

Texts Days

52 4

X 7

52 texts texts =

4 days 7 days

x

(7)(7)

91 text messagesx

Xavier will send 91 text messages in

7 days.52 texts texts

= 4 days 7 days

x

7 52 364364 4

91