Solving Proportions

Solving Proportions

Vanessa Hudgins

MAT222: Week 1 Assignment

Beyonce Knowles

February 5, 2014

Solving Proportions

According to our book a proportion is any statement expressing the equality of two ratios. (Dugopolski, 2012) We use proportion in many different ways and in our daily lives. Whether we are the lunchroom lady trying to figure out how many meals to prepare for the day or the architect that trying to create a scale of a building design. Ratios on the other hand are a comparison of two numbers. (Dugopolski, 2012) Ratios are important because they allow us to compare information. Problem 56 on page 437 of Elementary amd Intermediate Algebra, ask us to estimate the size of the bear population. The information that we are given is that conservationist captured, tagged, and released 50 bears. One year later a random sample of 100 bears included only 2 tagged bears. How will we figure out the bear population based on the information given?

Will use a ration equation to solve this problem.

Will let b = bear population

Will let 50 = the number of bears tagged, caputured, and released

Will let 100 = the random sample of bears

Will let 2 = the number of tagged bears included in the random sample

b = 100 Cross multiplication is used. The extremes are 50 and 100. The means are b

50 2 and 2.

2b = 100*50

2b = 5000 Divide both sides by 2 .

2 2

b= 2500 The bear population on the Keweenaw Peninsula is estimated to be around 2500 bears.

For problem 10 on page 444 of Elememtary and Intermediate Algebra we are to solve for y. We will use the same method we used on the first problem. We will cross multiply the means and extremes. The problem is as follows:

y-1 = -3 Cross multiplication is used.

x+3 4

4(y-1) = -3(x+3) The result of cross multiplication.

4y-4 = -3x-9 Distribute 4 on the left and -3 on the right.

4y-4+4 = -3x-9+4 Add 4 to both side .

4y = -3x-5 Divide both side by 4.

y= -3x-5 This is...