Question

Explain how to use equivalent ratios to solve the proportion$\frac{3}{2}=\frac{x}{12}$.

Short answer

The given proportion is solved as$x=18$.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1.  Given

The given proportion is $\frac{3}{2}=\frac{x}{12}$.

Step 2.  To determine

We have to solve the proportions $\frac{3}{2}=\frac{x}{12}$ using equivalent ratios.

Step 3.  Calculation 

To use the equivalent ratio, we need both fractions to have same numerator and denominator.

Since here one of the numerators is unknown, so we will try to match the denominators.

We will multiply $\frac{3}{2}$by 6 in the numerator and the denominator.

$\begin{array}{c}\frac{3}{2}=\frac{x}{12}\\ \frac{3\times 6}{2\times 6}=\frac{x}{12}\\ \frac{18}{12}=\frac{x}{12}\\ 18=x\\ x=18\end{array}$

So, the solution is $x=18$.