The ratio of boys to girls at the dance was 3:4. There were 60 girls at the dance. How many boys were at the dance?
Use a proportion comparing boys to girls at the dance. Boys/girls
¾ = x/60
Solve the proportion through cross-multiplying, setting the cross-products equal to each other and solving as display below.
(3)(60) = 4x
180 = 4x
180/4 = 4x/4
45 = x
There were 45 boys.