Solving Scaling Problems in Ratio: Step-by-Step Example
22 October 2026
Scaling problems in ratio often appear in 11+ maths. These questions ask you to work out how amounts change when you make a recipe bigger or smaller. Understanding the link between the numbers in a ratio helps you find the answer quickly and accurately.
Example question
A recipe uses 3 cups of flour for every 4 cups of sugar. If you want to use 12 cups of flour, how many cups of sugar do you need?
Step 1: Write the ratio of flour to sugar as 3:4.
Step 2: Find how many times the flour amount is scaled up. 12 ÷ 3 = 4.
Step 3: Multiply the sugar amount by this scale factor. 4 × 4 = 16.
The answer is 16 cups of sugar.
Key insight: Once your child knows how to spot the ratio and the scale factor, they can solve many similar problems with confidence. The next step is to try more scaling questions just like this, so your child can practise and feel ready for the 11+ exam.
