Last visit was: 27 Apr 2026, 06:05 It is currently 27 Apr 2026, 06:05
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
rajak01
Joined: 17 Sep 2015
Last visit: 30 May 2020
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 5
Posts: 18
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
gurmukh
Joined: 18 Dec 2017
Last visit: 30 Dec 2025
Posts: 258
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 20
Posts: 258
Kudos: 269
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
rajak01
Joined: 17 Sep 2015
Last visit: 30 May 2020
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 5
Posts: 18
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
ccooley
User avatar
Manhattan Prep Instructor
Joined: 04 Dec 2015
Last visit: 06 Jun 2020
Posts: 931
Own Kudos:
1,658
 [1]
Given Kudos: 115
GMAT 1: 790 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 790 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 931
Kudos: 1,658
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rajak01
Hi,

I know 1:2 can be written as 1 over 2 and 1:2:3 can be written as 1 over 6 but my question is why can't the first ratio cannot be written as 1 over 3 using the same logic of the multipart ratios?

Just to make sure I understand the initial question, let me reword it:

So, you're saying that you have a three-part ratio, 1:2:3. For instance, the ratio of rabbits to cats to dogs at an animal shelter, is 1:2:3.

You can also talk about this same ratio in terms of fractions. 1+2+3 = a total of 6 "parts," so you can also say that 1/6 of the animals are rabbits, 2/6 are cats, and 3/6 are dogs.

Assuming that's what you're referring to, then let me answer your actual question!

How you translate a ratio into a fraction, depends on what you're actually trying to figure out. For example, suppose that the ratio of boys to girls in a classroom is 1:2.

If you want to know what fraction of the total is made up of boys, you'd do the exact same thing you did with the 3-part ratio. You'd add together 1 and 2 to get 3. Then, you'd say that 1/3 of the total students are boys, and 2/3 of the total students are girls.

But if you want to calculate the fraction b/g (boys/girls), then you do 1/2.

In summary: boys/total would equal 1/3, while boys/girls would equal 1/2.

And the reason you're confused is that you're thinking about a "part/part" fraction in the first half of your question (1:2 = 1/2), but a "part/whole" fraction in the second half (1:2:3 -> 1/6).
User avatar
rajak01
Joined: 17 Sep 2015
Last visit: 30 May 2020
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 5
Posts: 18
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ccooley


Just to make sure I understand the initial question, let me reword it:

So, you're saying that you have a three-part ratio, 1:2:3. For instance, the ratio of rabbits to cats to dogs at an animal shelter, is 1:2:3.

You can also talk about this same ratio in terms of fractions. 1+2+3 = a total of 6 "parts," so you can also say that 1/6 of the animals are rabbits, 2/6 are cats, and 3/6 are dogs.

Assuming that's what you're referring to, then let me answer your actual question!

How you translate a ratio into a fraction, depends on what you're actually trying to figure out. For example, suppose that the ratio of boys to girls in a classroom is 1:2.

If you want to know what fraction of the total is made up of boys, you'd do the exact same thing you did with the 3-part ratio. You'd add together 1 and 2 to get 3. Then, you'd say that 1/3 of the total students are boys, and 2/3 of the total students are girls.

But if you want to calculate the fraction b/g (boys/girls), then you do 1/2.

In summary: boys/total would equal 1/3, while boys/girls would equal 1/2.

And the reason you're confused is that you're thinking about a "part/part" fraction in the first half of your question (1:2 = 1/2), but a "part/whole" fraction in the second half (1:2:3 -> 1/6).

That makes sense. Thank you. Following your example if the class has this ratio boys:girls:nosex as 1:2:3, does this mean the fraction of boys over girls will be 1/2 and boys over nosex 1/3? And the fraction of boys over total 1/6?

Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Quantitative Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!