What does the ratio of 6 to some number look like?

• A. 6 + x
• B. 6 / x
• C. x / 6
• D. 6 - x

Answer: (B)

The correct representation of the ratio of 6 to some number is shown by the expression involving division, which is 6 divided by that number. When we talk about a ratio, we are comparing two quantities, and the standard way to express that comparison in mathematical terms is through division.

In this case, if we say the ratio of 6 to an unknown number (let’s denote it as x), we express it mathematically as 6 / x. This indicates how many times the unknown number x goes into 6, or how 6 relates to that number in terms of proportion. The division operation captures the concept of a ratio effectively.

Other expressions like addition (6 + x), subtraction (6 - x), or comparing x to 6 (x / 6) do not represent the ratio of 6 to x. They convey different mathematical relationships that are not in line with the concept of a ratio, which specifically indicates a proportional relationship between two quantities through division.