Performance Stations in Math
Ratio & Proportion
Grade 9
by
Liliane Gauthier
Teacher / Educational Consultant
Saskatoon Board of Education

 
1. Ratio & Proportion
Grade 9
R-1, R-2, R-3

   Materials:
  small rectangle or square of colored paper
  pattern blocks
  recipe
  flyers and brochures
  linking cubes
 
1.Looking at a triangle, a square and a hexagon express their perimeters as ratios:
 a)triangle : square
 b)hexagon : triangle
 c)square : hexagon : triangle
2.Look at the recipe and compare quantities using ratios. Is it important to note the units? Give at least 5 different ratios.
3.Look at the flyers and brochures and write 5 questions using ratios. Provide the answers to your questions.
4.Use the blocks to show how to reduce 15:60:30 as a ratio in lowest terms.
5.In your own words, define ratio.
Recipe
Chocolate Coconut Macaroons
 1 1/2 cups sugar
 15 tsp cocoa
 1/2 cups milk
 3 cups rolled oats
 1 cup coconut
 1 tsp vanilla
Combine sugar and cocoa in saucepan. Add milk slowly. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil. Add butter and rolled oats - stir. Cook from 1 to 2 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add coconut and vanilla. Mix. Form into cookies with a spoon. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Do not bake as they will soon harden.
 

 
3. Ratio & Proportion
Grade 9
R-8, R-9

   Materials:
  Fuel Consumption Guide
 
1.Why are consumers interested in knowing how much gas is used for the different models of cars.
2.The guide gives statistics for both city driving and for highway driving. Why are these different?
3.Use the guide to assess the efficiency of your family vehicle if it is included in this guide. If not, try to find this information by experimenting, by looking at the information provided when the vehicle was purchased or by contacting a dealership.
4.Make up 4 questions and answer them.
5.What other criteria do consumers consider when purchasing a vehicle? Conduct a research to find out if dealerships know what are the three top reasons why people choose the vehicle that they do.
 

 
4. Ratio & Proportion
Grade 9
R-1, R-2, R-9

   Materials:
  current reference materials
 
1.Are each of the following ratios or rates?
 a)three red blocks to 5 blue blocks
 b)the number of litres of gasoline per kilometre
 c)the cost of milk per litre
 d)the number of grams of cheese to the number of grams of meat per pizza
 e)a particular fertiliser has 10:30:10 written on the bag
 f)the time it takes to go from Regina to Saskatoon when travelling at 100 km / h
2.Look in current reference books, magazines and newspapers to find ten examples of rates. Record and explain why they are rates and not ratios. If you are interested in sports, you may wish to browse through sports statistics to find your data.
 

 
8. Ratio & Proportion
Grade 9
R-24f

   Materials:
  bank rates
  newspapers
 
1.Look at the information provided or research to find the current rates of interest at local financial institutions.

Calculate the simple interest earned on an investment of $1500 invested at that rate.
2.Look at brochures and newspaper ads to find the rates of interest charge by different companies on motor vehicles. Calculate the amount remaining once the required down payment is given (some may not require a down payment) and then calculate the amount of interest that will be paid over the amount of years that they suggest. What will be the "actual" price of the vehicle at this rate?
3.What effect does the amount of down payment paid have on the total cost?
 

 
9. Ratio & Proportion
Grade 9
R-24

   Materials:
  calculator
  graphing calculator or computer (optional)
 
1.Suppose you have the $15 000.00 to invest. You don't know if you should put it in a savings plan with simple interest or with compound interest. A friend tells you that there is no decision. You should always choose compound interest if there are no other conditions attached to either plan.

You are not convinced so you set out to figure it our for yourself. What do you do?
2.a)Suppose that your grandparents placed $1000.00 in the bank the day that you were born at a rate of 8% if the interest is compounded annually?
 b)How much would you have when you reached 60 years of age?

To save time you may want to use a spreadsheet on a computer to calculate this.

(You may want to use a graphing calculator if one is available to you. These can be programmed to calculate this for you)


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