The total number of beads in the necklace is 40 beads.
Number of white beads:
2/5 of the beads are white.
Therefore, the number of white beads is:
![\Rightarrow(2)/(5)*40=16\text{ beads}](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/utju9bw9h17ew1tshyy03bngfxnvaxh0sy.png)
Number of red beads:
The number of red beads is:
![\Rightarrow40-16=24\text{ beads}](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/3hhjf8k9swy9hjebi2wr9bvsrp44dw5hoh.png)
Ratio of red beads to white beads:
The ratio is given to be:
![red\colon white=24\colon16](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/xu2hv09iy1uxncxf9dzacbegmgum8kvcx1.png)
We can divide through by 8 to get the simplified form, such that:
![red\colon white=3\colon2](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/l1yablk4p8c5iljuyqzewuhei1hpbbiys8.png)
The ratio is 3 : 2.