Ratio word problems worksheets
Twenty-four ratio stories: recipes, sharing, differences, unit rates, best buys, speed, maps and two-step problems.
Each story needs the right method, not just a calculation.
Download the free ratio word problems worksheet (PDF)
Ratio word problems worksheet
What’s on the worksheet
- 24 questions on ratio word problems, sized for US Letter paper
- 2 pages of questions plus an answer key on the last page
- Written for grades 6–7, matching Common Core 6.RP.A.3, 7.RP.A.3
- Name and date lines at the top, and room to show the work
Sample questions from this worksheet
- A recipe uses 2 eggs for every 3 cups of flour. How many eggs go with 12 cups of flour?
- Tom and Uma share $45 in the ratio 4 : 5. How much does Uma get?
- Ana and Ben have stickers in the ratio 3 : 5. Ben has 10 more than Ana. How many does Ana have?
- Pack A has 12 pens for $3. Pack B has 20 pens for $4.40. Which is the better buy?
- On a map, 1 cm stands for 25 km. Two cities are 6 cm apart on the map. How far apart are they?
- A : B is 2 : 3 and B : C is 4 : 5. What is A : C?
Quick reference: solving ratio word problems
Most ratio stories are one of five types. Spot the type first, then choose a tool.
- Scaling (recipes, mixtures): use a ratio table.
- Sharing a total: use a tape diagram and find one box.
- A difference: use a tape diagram and divide the difference by the extra boxes.
- A rate: find the unit rate, then multiply.
- A scale: multiply or divide by the scale.
The ratio word problems lesson works through each type step by step.
Preview the worksheet and answer key
Make a new ratio word problems worksheet
Need another page for extra practice, a retake or a second group in class? The free Mathify Kids test maker builds a fresh ratio word problems worksheet with different numbers every time. Choose how many questions, print it with its own answer key, or let your child take it on screen and see the score straight away.
Ratio word problems: a worked example (Tom and Uma share $45 in the ratio 4 : 5. How much does Uma get?)
- Draw 4 boxes for Tom and 5 for Uma: 9 boxes in all.
- Each box is $45 ÷ 9 = $5.
- Uma has 5 boxes: 5 × $5 = $25.
- Check: Tom gets $20, and $20 + $25 = $45.
How to use it at home and in class
At home
Ask your child to draw a ratio table or a tape diagram before calculating. The picture shows which numbers belong together. Ten problems a day works better than a whole sheet at once. Mark them together with the answer key, then ask your child to explain one they got wrong: finding the mistake themselves is where the learning happens.
In class
Use the first row as a warm-up, a full page for independent practice, or five questions as an exit ticket. For a retake or a second group, make a new version with the test maker so every child gets different numbers.
Mistakes to watch for
- Sharing by the ratio numbers, like giving Uma $5.
- Writing the ratio in the wrong order.
- Answering a different question from the one asked.
What to practice before and after ratio word problems
- Before: scale drawings. If this sheet is a struggle, go back a step.
- Learn it first: the ratio word problems lesson.
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Questions parents ask
How do you share an amount in a ratio?
Add the parts to find the number of boxes, divide the amount by that number, then multiply by each part.
What grade is this ratio word problems worksheet for?
It is written for grades 6–7 and matches Common Core standards 6.RP.A.3, 7.RP.A.3.
Can I get a different version of this ratio word problems worksheet?
Yes. Use the free Mathify Kids test maker to make a new ratio word problems worksheet with different numbers every time, with its own answer key.