Calculate the Ratio: Comparing Number of Fingers to Toes

Q: Why isn't the answer 2:1 since we have 2 hands and 2 feet?

Great question! The ratio asks for fingers to toes, not hands to feet. Since we typically have 10 fingers and 10 toes, the ratio is $ 10:10 $ which simplifies to $ 1:1 $.

Q: Do I always need to simplify ratios?

Yes! Ratios should always be in their simplest form. This means dividing both numbers by their greatest common divisor until no common factors remain except 1.

Q: What if someone has a different number of fingers or toes?

Good thinking! This problem assumes the typical human anatomy of 10 fingers and 10 toes. In math problems, we usually work with standard assumptions unless told otherwise.

Q: How do I find the greatest common divisor quickly?

For $ 10:10 $, both numbers are the same, so the GCD is 10 itself! For other ratios, list factors of each number and find the largest one they share.

Q: Can ratios be written as fractions?

Absolutely! The ratio $ 1:1 $ can also be written as $ \frac{1}{1} = 1 $. Both forms show the same relationship between quantities.

Ratio Simplification with Equal Quantities

What is the ratio between the number of fingers and the number of toes?

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Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

What is the ratio between the number of fingers and the number of toes?

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify the number of fingers, which is typically 10.
Step 2: Identify the number of toes, which is also typically 10.
Step 3: Write the ratio of fingers to toes.
Step 4: Simplify the ratio.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: The typical number of fingers on a human is $10$ .
Step 2: The typical number of toes on a human is $10$ .
Step 3: The ratio of fingers to toes is $10:10$ .
Step 4: Simplifying this ratio $10:10$ gives us $1:1$ .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is $1:1$ , which corresponds to answer choice 4.

Final Answer

$1:1$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Definition: Ratios compare two quantities using division or colon notation
Technique: Divide both numbers by their GCD: $10:10 ÷ 10 = 1:1$
Check: Verify $1 × 10 = 10$ fingers and $1 × 10 = 10$ toes ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Leaving ratios unsimplified
Don't write $10:10$ as your final answer = missed simplification! This makes the ratio look more complicated than it actually is. Always simplify ratios by dividing both parts by their greatest common divisor.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

What is the ratio between the orange and gray parts in the drawing?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why isn't the answer 2:1 since we have 2 hands and 2 feet?

Great question! The ratio asks for fingers to toes, not hands to feet. Since we typically have 10 fingers and 10 toes, the ratio is $10:10$ which simplifies to $1:1$ .

Do I always need to simplify ratios?

Yes! Ratios should always be in their simplest form. This means dividing both numbers by their greatest common divisor until no common factors remain except 1.

What if someone has a different number of fingers or toes?

Good thinking! This problem assumes the typical human anatomy of 10 fingers and 10 toes. In math problems, we usually work with standard assumptions unless told otherwise.

How do I find the greatest common divisor quickly?

For $10:10$ , both numbers are the same, so the GCD is 10 itself! For other ratios, list factors of each number and find the largest one they share.

Can ratios be written as fractions?

Absolutely! The ratio $1:1$ can also be written as $\frac{1}{1} = 1$ . Both forms show the same relationship between quantities.

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