Skip to content

Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Year 7 - Maths

Dividing a quantity into a given ratio

Understanding multiplicative relationships: fractions and ratio

Unit Summary

This unit introduces the concept of multiplicative relationsihps, and connects fractions to the idea of ratios. Ratios are then explored in depth and used to solve contextual problems such as those involving exchange rates and general conversions.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to divide one quantity into a given ratio.

Key Notes

  • Context can make it easier to divide a quantity into a given ratio.
  • Bar models can help to represent a situation.
  • It is important that the parts are equal, otherwise the ratio is not represented correctly.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Proportion: Variables are in proportion if they have a constant multiplicative relationship.
  • Ratio: A ratio shows the relative sizes of 2 or more values and allows you to compare a part with another part in a whole.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Always dividing the amount by the sum of the 'parts' of the ratio to get one 'part'.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Solve this in steps: explain the method from this lesson and why each step matters.

Context can make it easier to divide a quantity into a given ratio. Bar models can help to represent a situation.

2. Use this key word in a maths sentence and explain it clearly. 'Proportion'

Variables are in proportion if they have a constant multiplicative relationship. Use this word when showing your method, then check your final answer is reasonable.

3. Spot and fix this common maths mistake.

Mistake: Always dividing the amount by the sum of the 'parts' of the ratio to get one 'part'. Correction: Offer opportunities to match problems to bar models, ensure the same numbers are used to highlight the differences.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 7 Maths guide library.