Ratio Word Problems Worksheet

Math Worksheet · Grades 5–6

Ratio Word Problems Worksheet

A 3-page ratio-word-problems worksheet for grades 5-6. Students write each ratio in simplest form in 6 prompts in Section A (puppies to kittens, red to blue marbles, tulips to roses, students to teachers, wins to losses, flour to sugar), then solve 4 multi-step problems in Section B (equivalent recipe ratio, scale model, jar of marbles in a 3-to-5 ratio, dollars shared in a 2-to-5 ratio). Includes a complete answer key.

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All Ratio Word Problems Worksheets

Preview of page 1 of the Ratio Word Problems Worksheet

Subject

Math

Grades

Grades 5–6

Skill Focus

Ratio Word Problems, word problems

Lesson Length

20 minutes

Lesson Overview

About this worksheet

A ratio is one of the most important pre-algebra concepts because it formalizes the idea of a CONSTANT relationship between two amounts. Students who can write a ratio in simplest form, find an equivalent ratio, and divide a total into parts that match a ratio are equipped for proportional reasoning – which becomes percent, rate, slope, and unit conversion in the grades above.

The reference box at the top of page 1 covers three layers. First, the three NOTATIONS for a ratio (3:4, ‘three to four’, and the fraction form with numerator three and denominator four). Second, the SIMPLIFY rule (divide both terms by their greatest common factor – the same rule as simplifying a fraction). Third, the definition of EQUIVALENT ratios. The worked example shows 16:20 simplifying to 4:5 by dividing both terms by 4. The (16, 20) operand pair does NOT appear in any assessed item.

Section A on page 1 has 6 write-and-simplify items in a single-column layout: 12 puppies to 18 kittens, 5 red marbles to 15 blue, 6 tulips to 9 roses, 14 students to 2 teachers, 9 wins to 3 losses, and 4 cups of flour to 1 cup of sugar. The progression covers ratios that simplify by GCF 2, 3, 5, and 6, plus one ratio (4:1) that is already in simplest form so students recognize that ‘simplest form’ does not always change the numbers.

Section B on page 2 has 4 multi-step problems with work boxes. Item 7 is an EQUIVALENT recipe ratio (2:1 flour-to-sugar; scale to 8 cups flour). Item 8 is a SCALE model ratio (1 inch to 3 feet; real building 36 feet). Items 9 and 10 require the PART-WHOLE technique: a 3:5 marble ratio with 24 total (find each color), and a 2:5 money split of 35 dollars between two people. Page 3 is a complete answer key showing the GCF division for Section A and the equivalent-ratio or part-whole arithmetic for Section B.

How to Use This Lesson

Project the page 1 reference box and read the three ratio notations out loud: 3:4, ‘three to four’, and the fraction form.

Walk through the simplify rule with the worked example (16:20 -> 4:5 by dividing both terms by 4); anchor the GCF idea.

Read the definition of EQUIVALENT ratios and give a quick spoken example (2:3 and 6:9 are equivalent because you multiply both by 3).

Work Section A item 1 (12 puppies, 18 kittens) together; show 12:18 -> 2:3 (divide by 6).

Walk through Section A item 6 (4 cups flour, 1 cup sugar) since ‘simplest form’ here is just 4:1 – emphasize that ‘already simplest’ is a valid answer.

Assign the rest of Section A independently; circulate to check that students divide BOTH terms by the same number.

Read Section B item 7 (recipe 2:1, scale to 8 cups flour) together; show the equivalent-ratio table 2:1 = 8:4.

Walk through Section B item 9 (3 red to 5 blue marbles, 24 total) as the PART-WHOLE technique: 3 + 5 = 8 parts, 24 / 8 = 3 per part, 9 red and 15 blue.

Use Section B item 10 (2:5 split of 35 dollars) as a closing whole-class problem so students see the same part-whole pattern applied to money.

Use the answer key on page 3 for self-check or aide spot-check.

Printable Resource

A classroom-ready PDF with everything in one printable resource.

Full Member Resource · Printable PDF · 3 pages · Answer Key