What is the difference between ratios and fractions? While ratios and fractions might look the same and are often written similarly, these are two different portions of mathematics. Fractions represent a portion of a whole number. It is generally an example of specific types of ratios. These represent two numbers that are related in a part-to-whole relationship. The fractions are not a presentation of a comparative relation between two separate quantities. Ratios, on the other hand, represent quantity to quantity. These are expressions that compare quantities relative to each other.

A ratio is a comparison of two quantities. In these worksheets, your students will work with ratios and fractions to describe pictures containing multiple kinds of objects. Students will study each picture and for each picture determine the proportion of one object to the other object. They will express these proportions in the form of both ratios (x:x) and fractions (x/x). They will learn to attend to the order in which they express the ratio (i.e., x:y is not the same as y:x). Every worksheet contains one or more pictures that must be referenced in order to solve the problems. This set of worksheets contains step-by-step solutions to sample problems, both simple and more complex problems. Worksheets are provided for students to practice these skills independently. When finished with this set of worksheets, students will be able to recognize and express proportions by using both fractions and ratios. These worksheets explain how to describe pictures using fractions and ratios. Sample problems are solved and practice problems are provided.