Question 957384
there are 45 students.
33 of them are girls
12 of them are boys.


the ratio of girls to boys is 33 to 12.


this means that, for every 33 girls, there are 12 boys.


the ratio is also expressed as a fraction.


like any fraction, it can be simplified, and usually is.


33/12 can be simplified to 11/4.


the ratio of girls to boys would therefore be shown as 11/4 or 11:4.


showing it as 33/12 is not wrong.


It's just not simplified.


It's only wrong if you are required to simplify the ratio before showing it.