Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Marrion]

The proportion of women to men at my college was about five to one.

At this sentence, does "proportion" have the same meaning as the word "ratio"?

I have known that a "ratio" is relational fractional number written as x/y, a:b, x to y, a over b, etc. and a "proportion" is usually a part of the whole.

And then at this sentence, why is "ratio" used instead of "proportion".
I am confused....

I want to know why..

[lotus]

Hi marrion,

Often, words related to math are used loosely in everyday speech in English.

A proportion in math is an equality between two ratios. But, unless you're solving an equation, it usually isn't used in that way.

Proportion has 4 main definitions (American Heritage, order is mine):

1. Mathematics: A statement of equality between two ratios. Four quantities, a, b, c, d, are said to be in proportion if a/b = c/d.

2. A part considered in relation to the whole.

3. A relationship between things or parts of things with respect to comparative magnitude, quantity, or degree.

4. v. tr. To adjust so that proper relations between parts are attained. To form the parts of with balance or symmetry (proportional).

Your sentence is using definition 3. It is comparing magnitudes of quantity. There are five women for every one man at the college. It could very well have been five women for every two men. You might ask, "why not use a ratio instead?"

This is where the looseness of the definition comes in. We are in part using definition 2 as well. We're really talking about students as a whole when comparing women to men. "There were five women to every one man on campus as a whole." Using "ratio" (though correct) for this sentence would not be as effective.

So, when using mathematical terms for everyday speech, we should not take the mathematical definition literally. We are more concerned about the "sense" of what it means.


--lotus

[Marrion]

I have been studying your answer.....

If I can't understand your answers, I would like to ask you questions.


Have a nice day!!

[Marrion]

[1] The ratio of women to men at my college is five to one.
==>Can I think that this sentence means only the ratio of women to men at my college.

[2] The proportion of women to men at my college was about five to one.
==> Can I think that this sentence means about five women for every one man in the past as a whole when comparing women to men at my college. So at this sentence, If we use "ratio" instead, it wouldn't be effective.


At both the sentences, are you agree with my statement?

[lotus]

Yes.

Yes.


--lotus

[Marrion]

You are the best teacher in the world to me. Thank you very much, sir.