Final answer:
A ratio solution expresses the comparison between two quantities and is often used in calculations for concentrations in health sciences. An example is a ratio of 1:1000, which might represent one part substance per 1000 parts solvent. Ratios can be written various ways, and when used in metric conversions, they facilitate easy calculation between units, using proportions to find unknown values.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ratio solutions express a comparison between two quantities. They are often used in the health sciences and can be useful in various calculations, such as determining concentrations. For instance, a ratio solution of 1:1000 could signify one part of a substance to 1000 parts of another, usually solvent. Ratios can be written in different forms like fractions, with a colon, or with the word "to." For example, 2/3, 2:3, and "2 to 3" all represent the same ratio.
A proportion is two ratios that are equivalent, such as 1/2 = 3/6. A unit rate is a specific type of ratio where one of the measurements is 1, like 55 miles per hour or 55 miles/1 hour. Similarly, a unit scale is a ratio comparing actual dimensions to a scale model or drawing, for example, 1 inch on a map could represent 100 feet in reality, which is written as 1 inch/100 ft or 0.5 inch/100 feet.
In metric conversions, ratios such as 1 liter/1000 milliliters are used to effortlessly convert between units, since the metric system uses powers of 10. When calculating conversions, we set up the ratio with consistent units to create a proportion for solving, like 1 liter/1000 milliliters = 4 liters/x milliliters, finding the unknown value.