Maths Adventures
Zoo maths quest: ratio
A story-led junior maths adventure using animal counts, feeding plans and habitat maps 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 like 2:3 or "2 to 3" and they help us solve problems about sharing, feeding animals, or making things bigger or smaller.Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will be able to use ratios to compare amounts of things in a zoo, like how many carrots to feed the rabbits or how many animals live in each habitat. Success signs:- You can write ratios using numbers and words
- You can compare two amounts using ratio notation
- You can solve simple zoo problems using ratios
- You can see how ratios help us share or plan things fairly
Why this matters
Ratios help us make sure that animals get the right amount of food, that habitats have the right number of animals, and that we can plan our zoo adventures. Whether you're helping at home or visiting a real zoo, ratios help you understand how things compare and how to make fair decisions. In games like Minecraft or Roblox, you might use ratios to build the perfect house or plan how many resources you need. In real life, ratios help you share your snacks or plan your party.How it works
Ratios show how two amounts are related to each other. They are written with a colon (:) between the numbers. For example, if you have 3 lions and 5 tigers, you can say the ratio of lions to tigers is 3:5. You can also write it as "3 to 5". To understand ratios:- First, count how many of each thing you have
- Then, write the numbers with a colon between them
- It's important to keep the order the same – if you say lions to tigers, always write lions first
- When you simplify ratios, you can divide both numbers by the same number to make them smaller
Examples you can see
Let’s imagine you are planning a zoo adventure and need to work with ratios. Example 1: Feeding animals You have 12 carrots to feed the rabbits and 8 apples for the monkeys. The ratio of carrots to apples is 12:8. You can simplify this ratio by dividing both numbers by 4: 12 ÷ 4 = 3 8 ÷ 4 = 2 So the simplified ratio is 3:2. Example 2: Habitat animals In the bird house, there are 10 parrots and 5 flamingos. The ratio of parrots to flamingos is 10:5. Simplify by dividing by 5: 10 ÷ 5 = 2 5 ÷ 5 = 1 So the ratio is 2:1. Example 3: Zoo map scale A map shows that 1 cm on the map equals 100 metres in real life. If a path on the map is 3 cm long, the real path is 3 × 100 = 300 metres long. This is a ratio of 1:100.Try it as a mini adventure
Adventure: The Zoo Ratio Quest You are a zookeeper and need to solve 5 ratio challenges to make sure all the animals are happy. Challenge 1: You have 15 bananas and 10 oranges for the monkeys. Write the ratio of bananas to oranges. Answer: 15:10 = 3:2 Challenge 2: In the reptile house, there are 8 snakes and 4 turtles. Write the ratio of snakes to turtles. Answer: 8:4 = 2:1 Challenge 3: You are mixing a special food recipe for the pandas. The recipe says to mix 5 parts bamboo with 3 parts sugar. If you use 15 parts bamboo, how many parts sugar do you need? Answer: 15 ÷ 5 = 3, so 3 × 3 = 9 parts sugar Challenge 4: The zoo map shows 1 cm = 50 m. If the elephant habitat is 4 cm on the map, how far is it in real life? Answer: 4 × 50 = 200 m Challenge 5: You have 20 fish and 10 crabs for the aquarium. Write the ratio of fish to crabs. Answer: 20:10 = 2:1Common mistakes
- Mistake: Writing the numbers in the wrong order
Why it happens: Not paying attention to which item comes first
Fix: Always check that you are comparing the same things in the same order - Mistake: Forgetting to simplify ratios
Why it happens: Thinking that 12:8 is already simple
Fix: Look for common factors and divide both numbers by the same number - Mistake: Mixing up ratio with subtraction
Why it happens: Thinking that 10:5 means 10 minus 5
Fix: Remember ratios compare amounts, not differences - Mistake: Confusing ratio with fractions
Why it happens: Both use numbers and look similar
Fix: Ratios compare two parts, fractions show one part of a whole
Parent and carer guide
Parents and carers can help by:- Using everyday examples like sharing snacks or planning a meal to show how ratios work
- Letting children count objects and write ratios like "3 apples to 2 oranges"
- Playing simple ratio games like "If we have 4 red marbles and 8 blue marbles, what is the ratio?"
- Looking for real-world ratios in cooking, shopping, or nature
- Encouraging children to simplify ratios when they can
- Not worrying if children make mistakes – it's part of learning!
Practice questions
- There are 6 zebras and 9 giraffes. What is the ratio of zebras to giraffes?
- There are 12 penguins and 4 seals. What is the ratio of penguins to seals?
- There are 15 lions and 10 tigers. What is the simplified ratio of lions to tigers?
- There are 20 elephants and 10 rhinos. What is the ratio of elephants to rhinos?
- There are 8 monkeys and 12 birds. What is the simplified ratio of monkeys to birds?
- 6:9 = 2:3
- 12:4 = 3:1
- 15:10 = 3:2
- 20:10 = 2:1
- 8:12 = 2:3
FAQ
What is a ratio in simple terms?
A ratio is a way to compare how much of one thing there is compared to another thing. It helps us understand the relationship between two amounts.
How do you simplify a ratio?
You simplify a ratio by dividing both numbers by the same number that goes into both evenly. For example, 12:8 can be simplified by dividing by 4 to get 3:2.
Can ratios be more than 2 numbers?
Yes! Ratios can compare more than two things. For example, if you have 2 red flowers, 3 yellow flowers, and 1 blue flower, the ratio is 2:3:1.
Why do we use ratios in real life?
Ratios help us share things fairly, plan how much food or materials we need, and make sure everything is balanced and correct. They're used in cooking, building, science, and even in games.
How can I practice ratios at home?
You can practice by comparing things around your house, like the number of spoons to forks, or how many red toys to blue toys. Try writing ratios and simplifying them!