Ratio and Proportion
25 free practice questions with explanations
PassNova has 25 free Functional Skills Maths L2 practice questions on Ratio and Proportion, each with a clear explanation. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback — 100% free, no sign-up, on any device. Updated for 2026.
Ratio and Proportion: example questions & answers
25 worked examples with answers and explanations below. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback on every answer.
Simplify the ratio 10:20 to its simplest form.
- A2:4
- B5:10
- C20:40
- D1:2✓
Answer: Divide both sides by 10: 10÷10=1, 20÷10=2. So the simplest form is 1:2.
In a class, the ratio of boys to girls is 3:2. If there are 9 boys, how many girls are there?
- A3
- B6✓
- C12
- D15
Answer: If boys are 3 and there are 9, then 9 ÷ 3 = 3 (scale factor). Girls = 2 × 3 = 6.
The ratio of red to blue marbles is 2:5. If there are 10 red marbles, how many blue marbles are there?
- A5
- B15
- C20
- D25✓
Answer: Scale factor = 10 ÷ 2 = 5. Blue marbles = 5 × 5 = 25.
A recipe uses flour and sugar in the ratio 3:1. If you use 300g of flour, how much sugar is needed?
- A150g
- B50g
- C200g
- D100g✓
Answer: Scale factor = 300 ÷ 3 = 100. Sugar = 1 × 100 = 100g.
Simplify the ratio 6:9 to its simplest form.
- A2:3✓
- B1:1.5
- C3:4.5
- D12:18
Answer: Divide both sides by 3: 6÷3=2, 9÷3=3. So the simplest form is 2:3.
A car travels 100 km on 10 litres of fuel. How far can it travel on 25 litres?
- A200 km
- B125 km
- C300 km
- D250 km✓
Answer: Fuel efficiency = 100 ÷ 10 = 10 km/litre. Distance on 25 litres = 10 × 25 = 250 km.
In a school, the ratio of teachers to students is 1:25. If there are 4 teachers, how many students are there?
- A25
- B50
- C75
- D100✓
Answer: Scale factor = 4 ÷ 1 = 4. Students = 25 × 4 = 100.
A paint mixture uses red and white in the ratio 2:3. If you have 6 litres of red paint, how much white paint is needed?
- A12 litres
- B15 litres
- C6 litres
- D9 litres✓
Answer: Scale factor = 6 ÷ 2 = 3. White paint = 3 × 3 = 9 litres.
Simplify 15:20 to its simplest form.
- A7:8
- B3:4✓
- C15:20
- D5:7
Answer: Divide both sides by 5: 15÷5=3, 20÷5=4. So the simplest form is 3:4.
A builder mixes concrete in the ratio cement:sand:gravel = 1:2:3. If they use 5 kg of cement, how much sand is needed?
- A15 kg
- B10 kg✓
- C20 kg
- D5 kg
Answer: Scale factor = 5 ÷ 1 = 5. Sand = 2 × 5 = 10 kg.
A map has a scale of 1:100,000. If a road is 2 cm on the map, what is the actual distance in km?
- A2 km✓
- B200 km
- C20 km
- D2,000 km
Answer: Scale 1:100,000 means 1 cm on map = 100,000 cm actual = 1 km. So 2 cm on map = 2 km actual.
The ratio of apples to oranges is 5:3. If there are 15 apples, how many oranges are there?
- A3
- B5
- C9✓
- D12
Answer: Scale factor = 15 ÷ 5 = 3. Oranges = 3 × 3 = 9.
If 5 apples cost £2, what do 15 apples cost?
- A£4
- B£10
- C£6✓
- D£12
Answer: Cost per apple = £2 ÷ 5 = £0.40. Cost of 15 apples = £0.40 × 15 = £6.
A recipe for 4 people uses 200g of rice. How much rice is needed for 10 people?
- A500g✓
- B200g
- C400g
- D800g
Answer: Rice per person = 200 ÷ 4 = 50g. Rice for 10 people = 50 × 10 = 500g.
Simplify 12:8 to its simplest form.
- A4:3
- B2:1.33
- C6:4
- D3:2✓
Answer: Divide both sides by 4: 12÷4=3, 8÷4=2. So the simplest form is 3:2.
A petrol pump shows that 10 litres costs £15. How much do 30 litres cost?
- A£50
- B£40
- C£30
- D£45✓
Answer: Cost per litre = £15 ÷ 10 = £1.50. Cost of 30 litres = £1.50 × 30 = £45.
In a ratio 4:7, if the first part is 12, what is the second part?
- A7
- B14
- C21✓
- D28
Answer: Scale factor = 12 ÷ 4 = 3. Second part = 7 × 3 = 21.
A DIY project requires wood and nails in the ratio 50:1. If you use 50 pieces of wood, how many nails are needed?
- A1✓
- B10
- C50
- D100
Answer: Scale factor = 50 ÷ 50 = 1. Nails = 1 × 1 = 1.
Simplify 25:50:75 to its simplest form.
- A2:4:6
- B1:2:3✓
- C25:50:75
- D5:10:15
Answer: Divide all by 25: 25÷25=1, 50÷25=2, 75÷25=3. Simplest form is 1:2:3.
A job pays £20 per hour. If you work 6 hours, how much do you earn?
- A£120✓
- B£80
- C£100
- D£60
Answer: Earnings = £20 × 6 = £120.
The ratio of boys to girls in a year group is 2:3. If there are 200 students total, how many are boys?
- A50
- B80✓
- C100
- D120
Answer: Total ratio parts = 2 + 3 = 5. Boys = (2/5) × 200 = 80.
A scale drawing uses 1 cm to represent 10 metres. What is the actual distance for 5 cm?
- A25 metres
- B50 metres✓
- C15 metres
- D5 metres
Answer: Actual distance = 5 cm × 10 = 50 metres.
If 3 pens cost £1.50, what do 9 pens cost?
- A£4.50✓
- B£1.50
- C£3
- D£6
Answer: Cost per pen = £1.50 ÷ 3 = £0.50. Cost of 9 pens = £0.50 × 9 = £4.50.
In a garden, the ratio of flowers to weeds is 7:3. If there are 70 flowers, how many weeds are there?
- A15
- B20
- C30✓
- D35
Answer: Scale factor = 70 ÷ 7 = 10. Weeds = 3 × 10 = 30.
Simplify the ratio 18:27 to its simplest form.
- A6:9
- B9:13.5
- C3:4
- D2:3✓
Answer: Divide both sides by 9: 18÷9=2, 27÷9=3. So the simplest form is 2:3.