Solving Proportion Word Problems

Core concept

For example, if a recipe for 4 people needs 2 cups of rice, finding the rice needed for 10 people involves setting up the proportion 2/4 = x/10, then cross-multiplying: 2×10 = 4×x, giving 20=4x, so x=5 cups. This systematic cross-multiplication approach removes guesswork from proportion problems and is a technique that remains useful throughout mathematics, science, and everyday practical calculations like scaling recipes or maps.