A free printable worksheet that pairs with the Proportional Plates game. The worksheet prints first, and the answer key prints on its own page after it, so you can leave it off. To make a PDF, click Print and choose "Save as PDF."

Proportions in the Kitchen

Grades 6–7 · CCSS 7.RP.A.2 · Pairs with the Proportional Plates game

Name

Date

In a proportional relationship, every amount changes by the same factor. Two ways to solve: find the scale factor (order ÷ recipe) and multiply, or find the unit rate (the amount for 1) and multiply. Never add the difference.

Part A: Scale the recipe

1. 4 pancakes use 2 cups of flour. How much flour for 12 pancakes?

cups

2. A recipe for 2 people uses 3 eggs. How many eggs for 8 people?

eggs

3. 5 tacos use 10 oz of meat. How much meat for 15 tacos?

4. A soup for 6 people uses 4 cups of broth. How much for 3 people?

cups

Part B: Ratio tables

5. 6 cookies use 4 eggs. How many eggs for 9 cookies? Use the table.

Cookies	6	3	9
Eggs	4

eggs

6. Complete the table. Every column must be in the same ratio.

Servings	4	2	6	10
Cups of rice	6

Part C: Unit prices at the market

7. 5 lemons cost $2.50. What do 8 lemons cost?

8. 3 lb of apples cost $4.50. Find the price per pound, then the cost of 7 lb.

$/lb $

9. Which is the better deal: a 12 oz bag of flour for $3.00 or a 20 oz bag for $4.40? Show the unit price of each.

Better deal:

Part D: Fractional scale factors

10. 2 cups of rice serve 4 people. How much rice for 6 people?

cups

11. A recipe for 6 uses 9 oz of cheese. How much for 4?

12. Find the mistake. Casey said: "4 pancakes use 2 cups, and 12 pancakes is 8 more, so I need 2 + 8 = 10 cups." What went wrong? What's the right amount?

Correct: cups

Answer Key: Proportions in the Kitchen

For the teacher

k = 12 / 4 = 3; 2 × 3 = 6 cups
k = 8 / 2 = 4; 3 × 4 = 12 eggs
k = 15 / 5 = 3; 10 × 3 = 30 oz
k = 3 / 6 = ½; 4 × ½ = 2 cups
Halve: 3 cookies → 2 eggs. Add columns 6 + 3: 9 cookies → 6 eggs
2 servings → 3; 6 servings → 9; 10 servings → 15 cups (1.5 cups per serving)
$2.50 ÷ 5 = $0.50 each; 8 × $0.50 = $4.00
$4.50 ÷ 3 = $1.50/lb; 7 × $1.50 = $10.50
12 oz: $3.00 ÷ 12 = $0.25/oz. 20 oz: $4.40 ÷ 20 = $0.22/oz. The 20 oz bag is the better deal.
k = 6 / 4 = 1½; 2 × 1½ = 3 cups
k = 4 / 6 = ⅔; 9 × ⅔ = 6 oz
Casey added instead of multiplying. 12 pancakes is 3 times as many, so every ingredient triples: 2 × 3 = 6 cups

#12 is the most common proportion mistake. In the game, it's named in a pop-up with a tape diagram that shows why every amount has to grow by the same factor.