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Ratio of 750 g to 2 kg

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Ratios with units · Foundations

Step by step

The question

Question: write the ratio of 750 grams to 2 kilograms in its simplest form.

750 g : 2 kg

Careful!

The units are not the same: grams and kilograms.

750 to 2 would compare different things.

Careful: not 750 : 2 ✗

1 Same units

A ratio only compares amounts in the same unit.

We change to the smaller unit, grams, so there are no fractions.

1 kilogram is 1000 grams.

1 kg = 1000 g

So 2 kilograms is 2 times 1000: 2000 grams.

= 2 kg = 2 × 1000 g = 2000 g

2 Drop the units

Now the ratio is 750 grams to 2000 grams.

= 750 g : 2000 g

Both are in grams.

The same units cancel, so we cross them out.

That leaves 750 to 2000.

= 750 : 2000

3 Simplify

750 and 2000 can both be divided by 250.

We divide both parts by 250.

The ratio stays the same.

= 750 ÷ 250 : 2000 ÷ 250

750 divided by 250 is 3.

2000 divided by 250 is 8.

So the ratio is 3 to 8.

= 3 : 8

4 Check

Let's check: times each part by 250.

We get 750 grams and 2000 grams again.

3 × 250 = 750 g, 8 × 250 = 2000 g

And 2000 grams divided by 1000 is 2 kilograms, as in the question.

So the answer is right!

2000 g = 2000 ÷ 1000 = 2 kg

Let's look back.

First: same units.

Then: drop the units.

Then: simplify.

Last: check.

Answer
= 3 : 8

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

Write the ratio of 750 g : 4 kg
Show the answer
3 : 16

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