Step by step
The question
Question: share 56 sweets between Mia and Leo in the ratio 3 to 4.
Share 56 sweets between Mia and Leo in the ratio 3 : 4
The ratio says how many equal parts each one gets: 3 for Mia and 4 for Leo.
Mia: 3 parts, Leo: 4 parts
Careful!
3 to 4 does not mean dividing 56 sweets by 3 and by 4.
It counts parts of the same size.
Careful: not 56 sweets ÷ 3, 56 sweets ÷ 4 ✗
1 Count the parts
All together there are 3 plus 4: 7 equal parts.
= 3 + 4 = 7 parts
2 Draw the bar
3 Find one part
7 parts make 56 sweets.
So one part is 56 divided by 7: 8.
= 1 part = 56 ÷ 7 = 8
Every part is 8 sweets.
4 Find each share
Mia has 3 parts: 3 times 8 is 24 sweets.
= Mia: 3 × 8 = 24 sweets
Leo has 4 parts: 4 times 8 is 32 sweets.
= Leo: 4 × 8 = 32 sweets
So the shares are Mia 24 sweets and Leo 32 sweets.
= Mia: 24 sweets, Leo: 32 sweets
5 Check
Let's check.
The shares add up: 24 plus 32 is 56 sweets.
24 + 32 = 56
And divided by 8, they give 3 to 4 again.
So the answer is right!
24 : 32 → ÷ 8 → 3 : 4
Let's look back.
First: count the parts.
Then: draw the bar.
Then: find one part.
Then: find each share.
Last: check.
Answer
= Mia: 24 sweets, Leo: 32 sweets