Final answer:
To express 25 pounds to 30 pounds as a ratio in the simplest form using a colon, you divide both numbers by their greatest common divisor, which is 5, resulting in a simplified ratio of 5:6.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asked to write the comparison of 25 pounds to 30 pounds as a ratio in the simplest form using a colon. To do this, we start by writing the two given quantities in the order mentioned: 25 pounds to 30 pounds, which can also be written as 25:30. The next step is to simplify the ratio.
Since both numbers are divisible by 5, we divide each part of the ratio by 5. Dividing 25 by 5 gives us 5, and dividing 30 by 5 gives us 6. Therefore, the simplest form of the ratio is 5:6.
Ratios are a way to compare quantities and can be written as fractions, with a colon, or with the word "to." This concept applies to various units of measurement, including pounds (weight), ounces, and tons. When converting between units, it's essential to know whether to multiply or divide. For example, since a pound is larger than an ounce, you would multiply when converting from pounds to ounces.
Likewise, when converting ounces to pounds, you would divide because an ounce is a smaller unit than a pound. An example of this is 32 ounces equals 2 pounds, because 32 divided by 16 (the number of ounces in a pound) is 2.