Ratios in the Real World (B) - Solve Each Word Problem

Sep 23, 2026

Ratios in the Real World (B) provides word problems focused on forming and simplifying ratios from real-life art and classroom situations. Students practice comparing quantities such as students to easels, paintbrushes to paint tubes, and watercolor-preferring students to non-watercolor students. The set also includes scale drawing conversions, paint mixing proportions, cost per item, work-rate comparisons, and percent-completion ratio reasoning. A challenge problem extends ratio use to multiple brush types and totals, including computing total fan-brush cost.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Word Problems

Challenge Problem

Name: Ratios in the Real World (B) Directions: Solve each word problem. Show your work and write your answer on the line. 1. An art class has 15 students and 5 easels. Write the ratio of students to easels. Answer: 2. A supply cabinet has 24 paintbrushes and 16 tubes of paint. Write and simplify the ratio of brushes to tubes. Answer: 3. A scale drawing uses 1:30 . A desk is 5 cm in the drawing. What is the actual length? Answer: 4. A paint mix uses 1 part red to 4 parts white. If an artist uses 3 jars of red, how many jars of white are needed? Answer: 5. A class of 20 students has 12 who prefer watercolors. Write the ratio of watercolor students to non watercolor students. Answer: 6. A box of 30 brushes costs $45. What is the cost per brush? Answer: Mashup Math LLC | Al[l Rights Reserved | Get More K-12 Math Worksheets at www.mashupmath.com](l Rights Reserved | Get More K-12 Math Worksheets at www.mashupmath.com) 7. Artist A completes 18 paintings in 6 weeks. Artist B completes 28 paintings in 7 weeks. Who works faster? Answer: 8. A mural is 40% complete after 60 hours. Write the ratio of hours worked to total estimated hours. Answer: 9. An art gallery has 18 paintings and 12 sculptures. Write the ratio of paintings to all artworks. Answer: 10. Two students mix colors. Student A uses 2 parts yellow to 6 parts blue. Student B uses 1 part yellow to 3 parts blue. Are they equivalent? Answer: 11. Challenge Problem An art store sells three types of brushes: 12 flat, 8 round, and 20 fan brushes. a) Write the ratio of flat to round brushes in simplest form b) Write the ratio of round brushes to total brushes in simplest form c) Each fan brush costs $3.50. What is the total cost of all fan brushes? Mashup Math LLC | Al[l Rights Reserved | Get More K-12 Math Worksheets at www.mashupmath.com](l Rights Reserved | Get More K-12 Math Worksheets at www.mashupmath.com) ANSWER KEY Word Problems 1.) 1. ) 15:5 (or 3:1 simplified) (15:5 → GCF=5 → 3:1) 2.) 2. ) 3:2 (24:16 → GCF=8 → 3:2) 3.) 3. ) 150 cm (or 1.5 m) (5 × 30 = 150 cm) 4.) 4. ) 12 jars of white (1:4 = 3:? → 3×4 = 12) 5.) 5. ) 12:8 (or 3:2 simplified) (non-watercolor = 20−12 = 8 → 12:8 = 3:2) 6.) 6. ) $1.50 per brush ($45 ÷ 30 = $1 .50) 7.) 7. ) Artist B (4/week vs 3/week) (A: 18÷6=3 . B: 28÷7=4 . Artist B. ) 8.) 8. ) 60:150 (or 2:5 simplified) (40% of total = 60 → total = 150 → 60:150 = 2:5) 9.) 9. ) 18:30 (or 3:5 simplified) (total = 18+12=30 → 18:30 = 3:5) 10.) 10. ) Yes—both equal 1:3 (2:6 = 1:3 . Same ratio. ) 11.) Challenge Problem: a) 3:2 (12:8 → GCF=4 → 3:2) b) 1:5 (8:40 → GCF=8 → 1:5) c) $70.00 (20 × $3.50 = $70) Mashup Math LLC | Al[l Rights Reserved | Get More K-12 Math Worksheets at www.mashupmath.com](l Rights Reserved | Get More K-12 Math Worksheets at www.mashupmath.com)

FAQs

How do you write ratios for students to easels or brushes to paint tubes?

Identify the two quantities being compared, write them as a:b, then simplify by dividing both parts by their greatest common factor if needed.

How is the scale drawing problem solved using a ratio like 1:30?

Use the scale factor to find actual length: multiply the drawing measure by 30 to match the real-world proportion.

How do you handle the percent-complete mural ratio question?

Convert the percent to an amount of time worked (e.g., 40% of total), determine the total estimated hours, then form the ratio of hours worked to total hours and simplify.

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Maya Linwood