The ratio of chocolate chips to cookie dough in a mixture is 1:3. Which of the following best describes the amount of chocolate chips and cookie dough in the mixture?
For every 1 cup of chocolate chips, there are 2 cups of cookie dough.
For every 2 cups of chocolate chips, there is 1 cup of cookie dough.
For every 1 cup of chocolate chips, there are 3 cups of cookie dough.
For every 3 cups of chocolate chips, there is 1 cup of cookie dough.

Question

The ratio of chocolate chips to cookie dough in a mixture is 1:3. Which of the following best describes the amount of chocolate chips and cookie dough in the mixture?                        
 For every 1 cup of chocolate chips, there are 2 cups of cookie dough.
 For every 2 cups of chocolate chips, there is 1 cup of cookie dough.
 For every 1 cup of chocolate chips, there are 3 cups of cookie dough.
 For every 3 cups of chocolate chips, there is 1 cup of cookie dough.

usukidoll · Answer

The ratio of chocolate chips to cookie dough in a mixture is 1:3.

so we have

chocolate chips: cookie dough
if chocolate chips =1
and cookie dough =3
what do we have?

theeric · Answer

A ratio just looks at two amounts at the same time. It's not usually a fraction of some total. They usually are different things entirely, like chocolate chips and cookie dough.

I'm in my living room, looking around. There are 2 lamps, and 1 tree. The ratio of lamps to trees is 2:1. Different objects, two amounts, makes a ratio.

So, why have a ratio if they're two different things? Well, the ratio compares the total proportions. For example, another person might be in their living room and see 4 lamps and 2 trees. That ratio is still 2:1. For every two lamps, there is one tree. Maybe a really rich person has 200 lamps. If they enjoy the same lamps-to-trees ratio that I do, they have 100 trees, so the ratio is still 2:1.

Some cleaning solutions say to dilute them, or they'll be too strong. They say something like, "dilute with water to 1:32," meaning add water until you have 1 part solution and 32 parts water. (It's implied that you have less water than solution because it tells you to "dilute" the solution.) What kind of measurement is a "part?" Well, doesn't matter - that's the beauty of a ratio. If you have one cup solution, you need 32 cups water. If you have 1 swimming pool of solution, you need 32 swimming pools of water.

So now you probably understand a little more about ratios. You have 1 part chocolate chips and 3 parts cookie dough, for a 1:3 ratio of chocolate chips to cookie dough.

Good luck!