Section 8.5 Ratios
A ratio is a mathematical tool for comparison. Ratios can be used either visually or numerically to compare quantitative data. With a ratio, you can either compare two parts of a group to each other, or you can compare a part of a group to the whole group. For this section, the focus is on the comparison of parts of the group to each other, specifically using the context of school support personnel.
First, there is a need to explore the different forms that a ratio can take. There are three main ways a ratio can be expressed:
A verbal form (the ratio of part to part)
A colon form (part: part)
A fraction form (\(\frac{part}{part}\))
Each of these is read the same way as the verbal form, the ratio of part to part. The main significance is recognizing the notation when you come across it in readings. To avoid confusion, most writers will present ratios using a colon form (part: part) and reserve fraction form for comparisons against the whole. The same convention will be followed in this module and other portions of this text.