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Maths Adventures

Dragon maths quest: ratio

A story-led junior maths adventure using hoards, scales and fiery puzzles to mix recipes, scale drawings and compare quantities.

Quick answer

Ratio is a way to compare how much of one thing there is compared to another thing. You can write ratios using numbers, like 2:3, or words, like "2 to 3". It's like sharing cookies between two friends, or mixing paint to make a perfect colour.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how to compare amounts using ratios, and you will be able to solve simple ratio problems in everyday life, like sharing snacks or mixing ingredients. Success signs:
  • You can write a ratio using numbers like 3:5
  • You can explain what a ratio means in words
  • You can solve simple ratio problems using pictures or objects
  • You can find equal ratios by multiplying or dividing both sides

Why this matters

Ratios help you understand how things relate to each other. Whether you're sharing sweets with a friend, mixing paint for a picture, or helping your parent cook dinner, ratios are everywhere! In Dragon Maths Quest, you'll use ratios to decide how much gold to mix with silver in a treasure hoard, or how to split up a dragon's food between baby dragons.

How it works

Ratios compare two or more amounts. You write them using a colon (:). For example, if you have 3 red marbles and 2 blue marbles, the ratio of red to blue marbles is 3:2. This means for every 3 red marbles, there are 2 blue marbles. To work with ratios:
  1. Count how much of each thing you have
  2. Write the amounts using a colon between them
  3. Make sure the order is correct – red to blue, not blue to red
  4. You can simplify ratios by dividing both numbers by the same amount

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're on a Dragon Maths Quest and you find a treasure chest with gold and silver coins. You count them:
  • Gold coins: 6
  • Silver coins: 4
The ratio of gold to silver is 6:4. You can simplify this by dividing both numbers by 2:
  • 6 ÷ 2 = 3
  • 4 ÷ 2 = 2
So the simplified ratio is 3:2. Real-world example: Imagine you're helping your parent make a fruit smoothie. The recipe says "2 bananas to 3 strawberries". This is a ratio! If you want to make a bigger smoothie, you could use 4 bananas and 6 strawberries – that's still the same ratio. Another example: A dragon has 5 green eggs and 10 blue eggs. The ratio of green to blue eggs is 5:10. Simplify this by dividing by 5:
  • 5 ÷ 5 = 1
  • 10 ÷ 5 = 2
So the ratio is 1:2.

Try it as a mini adventure

Dragon Maths Quest: The Great Hoard You are a young dragon explorer who has found a magical treasure chest. Inside are 12 gold coins and 8 silver coins. Step 1: Count the coins and write the ratio of gold to silver. Answer: 12:8 Step 2: Simplify the ratio. Answer: 3:2 Step 3: Now you find 15 more gold coins and 10 more silver coins. What is the new ratio of gold to silver? Answer: 27:18 Step 4: Simplify the new ratio. Answer: 3:2 Step 5: The dragon says you must share the treasure equally with your friend dragon. If you have 3 parts gold and 2 parts silver, how many of each would each dragon get if there are 5 parts total? Answer: 3 parts gold and 2 parts silver Step 6: If there are 50 coins in total, how many gold and silver coins does each dragon get? Answer: 30 gold and 20 silver

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Writing the ratio in the wrong order. Why it happens: Children sometimes mix up which amount comes first. Fix: Always double-check that the first number is for the first thing you're comparing.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to simplify the ratio. Why it happens: Kids might think the original numbers are the "best" way to write it. Fix: Always check if both numbers can be divided by the same number.
  • Mistake: Thinking ratios must always be whole numbers. Why it happens: Children might be confused by decimal numbers. Fix: Ratios can include decimals, but it's easier to work with whole numbers when possible.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help by:
  • Using everyday examples like mixing paint, cooking, or sharing snacks
  • Encouraging your child to write ratios in different ways (words and numbers)
  • Practising with simple ratios using objects like counters, blocks, or toys
  • Checking that your child understands that ratios show relationships, not just numbers
  • Reinforcing that the order in a ratio is important
What to say:
  • "Let's count how many red and blue blocks you have – what's the ratio?"
  • "If we double the amount of each ingredient, does the ratio stay the same?"