G:N = 4:3, N:R = 5:3, G:N:R = ? A principle of proportions is: If both parts of a proportion are multiplied by the same positive number, the proportion is unchanged. N is in the middle of G:N:R. N corresponds to 3 in the first proportion, and to 5 in the second proportion. We must get these to the same number, using the above principle of proportions. The least common multiple of the two numbers corresponding to N, which are 3 and 5, is 15. 3 needs to be multiplied by 5 to become 15. 5 needs to be multiplied by 3 to become 15. Therefore: G:N = 4:3 = (4×5):(3×5) = 20:15 N:R = 5:3 = (5×3):(3×3) = 15:9 Now that N corresponds to the same number, 15, in both proportions, we can put them together as G:N:R = 20:15:9 Edwin