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Maths Adventures

Pirate maths quest: ratio

A story-led junior maths adventure using treasure maps, ship supplies and secret codes to mix recipes, scale drawings and compare quantities.

Quick answer

Ratio is about comparing how much of one thing there is compared to another thing. In a pirate quest, you might need to mix 2 cups of sand with 1 cup of water to make a special potion, or divide 12 gold coins between 3 crew members.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to compare amounts using ratios and understand how to share things fairly using simple ratios. Success signs:
  • You can say "for every 2 blue blocks, there is 1 red block" (simple 2:1 ratio)
  • You can split 10 sweets between 2 friends using a 5:5 ratio
  • You can use a simple recipe that needs 3 cups of flour to 1 cup of sugar (3:1 ratio)
  • You can find the missing part in a simple ratio like 2:3 = ? : 6

Why this matters

Ratios help you understand how things go together. In a pirate adventure, you might need to mix ingredients for a secret potion, or share treasure fairly. In real life, ratios help you:
  • Follow a recipe when cooking
  • Share snacks with friends
  • Understand maps (like 1 cm = 1 km)
  • Make art or build things with the right proportions

How it works

A ratio shows how two amounts are related. We write it with a colon (:) between the numbers. For example:
  • 2:1 means "2 of one thing to 1 of another"
  • 3:2 means "3 of one thing to 2 of another"
You can think of ratios like this:
  • If you have 2 red apples and 1 green apple, the ratio is 2:1
  • If you have 3 blue blocks and 2 yellow blocks, the ratio is 3:2
Ratios can be used to:
  • Share things equally
  • Make sure you have the right ingredients
  • Compare how much of one thing there is

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're on a pirate ship with your crew. You need to divide treasure fairly and make a special potion. Example 1: Sharing treasure You and your friend have 10 gold coins to share equally.
  • Put 10 coins into 2 groups
  • Each group has 5 coins
  • The ratio is 5:5
Example 2: Mixing potion To make a magic potion, you need 2 cups of sand and 1 cup of water.
  • 2 cups sand : 1 cup water
  • This is a 2:1 ratio
Example 3: Crew supplies Your pirate ship has 6 bottles of rum and 3 bottles of water.
  • 6 bottles rum : 3 bottles water
  • This is a 6:3 ratio
  • You can simplify this to 2:1 (because both numbers can be divided by 3)

Try it as a mini adventure

Pirate Treasure Hunt Challenge You are on a pirate ship with 3 crew members. You have found a treasure chest with 12 gold coins. You need to share them fairly. 1st time: You put 12 coins into 3 equal piles 2nd time: Each pile has ? coins 3rd time: The ratio of coins per person is ? : ? : ? 4th time: If you had 18 coins, how many would each person get? 5th time: What is the ratio of coins to crew members? Answer: 1st time: You put 12 coins into 3 equal piles 2nd time: Each pile has 4 coins 3rd time: The ratio of coins per person is 4 : 4 : 4 4th time: If you had 18 coins, each person would get 6 coins 5th time: The ratio of coins to crew members is 12 : 3 or simplified 4 : 1

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 2:3 and 3:2 are the same ratio Why it happens: Children often mix up the order of numbers Fix: Remember that 2:3 means 2 of one thing to 3 of another, so the first number is for the first thing
  • Mistake: Not simplifying ratios Why it happens: Children may not know that 6:3 can be simplified to 2:1 Fix: Find a number that divides both sides evenly, like 3 for 6:3
  • Mistake: Confusing ratios with fractions Why it happens: Both use numbers and a colon, but they mean different things Fix: Remember ratios compare parts to parts, while fractions compare parts to a whole
  • Mistake: Adding instead of multiplying when solving ratio problems Why it happens: Children might add 2 + 3 = 5 instead of thinking 2 + 3 = 5 parts total Fix: Think about how many parts there are in total, not what the numbers add up to

Parent and carer guide

How to help your child learn ratios In 5-10 minutes, you can:
  1. Count together: When cooking, ask "for every 2 eggs, how many cups of flour?"
  2. Use everyday items: Count blocks, toys, or snacks using ratios like 3 red to 1 blue
  3. Play sharing games: Share 12 cookies between 3 people and talk about the ratio
  4. Draw ratios: Draw 3 red circles and 2 blue circles to show a 3:2 ratio
  5. Read together: Look for ratios in books or stories about sharing
What to watch for:
  • Your child mixing up the order of numbers in ratios
  • Confusion between ratios and fractions
  • Not understanding that ratios compare parts to parts
What not to worry about:
  • Getting the first few ratios wrong - it's normal to practice
  • Not knowing all the ratios at once - they develop with time
  • Children mixing up simple 2:1 ratios with 1:2 - this is common

Practice questions

  1. What is the ratio of 4 red blocks to 2 blue blocks?
  2. If you have 6 apples and 3 oranges, what is the ratio?
  3. Share 10 sweets between 2 friends. What is the ratio?
  4. What is the simplified ratio of 8:4?
  5. For every 3 cups of flour, you need 1 cup of sugar. What is the ratio?
  6. If you have 12 pencils and 4 erasers, what is the ratio?
  7. What is the ratio of 5 green to 10 yellow?
  8. Share 15 cookies between 3 people. What is the ratio?
  9. What is the simplified ratio of 9:3?
  10. For every 4 blue to 2 red, what is the ratio?
Answers:
  1. 4:2
  2. 6:3
  3. 5:5
  4. 2:1
  5. 3:1
  6. 12:4
  7. 5:10
  8. 5:5:5
  9. 3:1
  10. 4:2

FAQ

What is a ratio?

A ratio is a way to compare how much of one thing there is compared to another thing. We write it with a colon, like 2:1 or 3:2.

How do I simplify a ratio?

To simplify a ratio, find a number that divides both sides evenly. For example, 6:3 can be simplified to 2:1 because both 6 and 3 can be divided by 3.

Can I use ratios for sharing things?

Yes! If you have 12 cookies to share between 3 people, each person gets 4 cookies. The ratio is 4:4:4.

How are ratios different from fractions?

Ratios compare parts to parts (like 2 red blocks to 1 blue block), while fractions compare parts to a whole (like 2 out of 3 blocks are red).

What are some real-life examples of ratios?

Ratios are used in cooking (2 cups flour to 1 cup sugar), maps (1 cm = 1 km), and sharing (2 friends to 10 sweets = 5:5).