How can you tell they’ve got it: Ratio Notation and Relationships?

If they’ve got it, you’ll see things like: Explain why 'for every 2 red beads there are 5 blue beads' can be written as 2:5 or as 2/5 of the blue count; Identify the multiplicative relationship in a table of values (e.g. y is always 3 times x); Connect the ratio a:b to the fraction a/b and to the linear function y = (a/b)x. Or just try it together: Can your child explain why a ratio like 3:4 is really the same as the fraction ¾ — and show how that relationship connects to a straight-line graph through the origin?

Mathematics Ratio & Proportion Ages 12–14

Ratio Notation and Relationships

Your child knows a ratio like 3:4 links to the fraction 3/4. They can see how it connects to a straight-line graph through zero.

In curriculum terms

Understand that a multiplicative relationship between two quantities can be expressed as a ratio; use ratio notation; simplify ratios

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Explain why 'for every 2 red beads there are 5 blue beads' can be written as 2:5 or as 2/5 of the blue count
Identify the multiplicative relationship in a table of values (e.g. y is always 3 times x)
Connect the ratio a:b to the fraction a/b and to the linear function y = (a/b)x

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Try this together

Can your child explain why a ratio like 3:4 is really the same as the fraction ¾ — and show how that relationship connects to a straight-line graph through the origin?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

One Quantity as a Fractionages 11–12Connecting ratios to fractions requires expressing quantities as fractions of each other

Proportion Graphsages 11–14Understanding multiplicative relationships as ratios or fractions is reinforced by the double number line and proportion graph

Proportional Reasoning Vocabularyages 11–14Multiplicative relationships require 'multiplicative relationship', 'direct proportion', and 'rate' vocabulary

Ratio Notationages 11–12Understanding multiplicative relationships requires fluent ratio notation

Linear Function Graphsages 12–14Connecting ratios to linear functions links to understanding y = mx + c from algebra

Ratio Notation and Relationshipsthis skill · ages 12–14

Unlocks

Proportionages 12–14Direct/inverse proportion requires understanding multiplicative relationships

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

This skill sits beyond Year 6 in the Australian Curriculum, so no F–6 code is matched. It also sits beyond the NSW K–6 syllabuses. It also sits beyond Level 6 in the Victorian Curriculum.

Nearby on the map

Percentagesages 12–14 Proportionages 12–14 Compound Unitsages 11–14 Dividing Quantities by Ratioages 11–13

All Ratio & Proportion skills →