[Maths-Education] Ratio and Proportion
Dave Wilson
D.Wilson@mmu.ac.uk
Thu, 4 Oct 2001 13:23:08 +0100
Please help me to understaqnd these 2 words! I don't think that I
have ever been particularly bothered about them before, despite years
of teaching using texts with chapter titlse like Ratio and Proportion.
I was looking at the NNS Key Stage 3 and read;
Year 7 pupils should use read and write, spelling correctly ratio, proportion.
It then goes on to say;
Proportion compares part to whole
offering examples - 24 fish in a pond, 6 are gold, 18 black .... the
proportion of goldfish is 6 out of 24
and a page later;
Ratio compares part to part
These distinctions are not part of my understanding of the words. Am
I missing something? Is this something I should know? Am I being
mislead in terms of current usage by some hazy recollection of old
Euclid/Heath usages?
regards,
--
Dave
Dave Wilson (D.Wilson@mmu.ac.uk A letter always reaches its
destination Dave@zizek.demon.co.uk) Lacan
http://s13a.math.aca.mmu.ac.uk