Circle Radius Comparison: Finding the Ratio of 16 vs 8

When comparing sizes, division tells you how many times larger one thing is than another. Subtraction only tells you the difference. Since the question asks "how many times longer," you need to divide: $\frac{16}{8} = 2$.

That's okay! You might get answers like 2.5 times or 1.3 times. Just make sure to express your answer as a decimal or fraction, and always double-check your division.

Yes, it matters! The question asks how many times longer the red circle's radius is than the blue circle's radius. So red goes on top: $\frac{\text{red}}{\text{blue}} = \frac{16}{8}$.

Multiply your answer by the smaller radius. If you get the larger radius, you're right! Check: $2 \times 8 = 16$ ✓. This confirms the red radius is exactly 2 times the blue radius.

If you calculate $\frac{8}{16} = 0.5$, you're finding how many times longer the blue radius is than the red radius. Always read the question carefully to see which comparison is being asked!