What it means
State the idea in plain language first. Ratios has definitions with worked examples.
Same symbol, same meaning
If a symbol appears more than once, it should stand for the same quantity unless the problem defines it differently.
Try it
Example: “In this problem, x is the ticket price in dollars.” If you cannot finish that kind of sentence, list what is known and what you need before you rearrange anything.
Check the numbers
Core lesson
Go deeper: Ratios. Use the calculators below with your own loan or bill numbers, not only the examples on this page.