Ratio Mixer

Choose a mode

Set the amount of Juice A and Juice B with the − and + buttons (or drag a glass up to fill it, down to empty it) until their ratio matches the target — any equivalent amounts work — then press Check.

3D math game · Best for grades 5-6

Ratio Mixer

Ratio Mixer places students at a smoothie bar with two juice glasses. The goal is to pour Juice A and Juice B in a target ratio — and discover that 1:2, 2:4, and 3:6 all produce the same drink. The act of adjusting amounts until the ratio clicks makes equivalence feel concrete rather than symbolic.

What students practice

Ratio Mixer builds the core understanding that a ratio describes a relationship between two quantities, not a fixed pair of numbers. Students discover that multiplying both parts by the same factor preserves the ratio — the foundation for proportional reasoning in grades 5 and 6.

  1. Read the target ratio shown above the glasses (for example, 1:2).
  2. Use the − and + buttons, or drag each glass up or down, to set the amounts of Juice A and Juice B.
  3. Any pair of amounts that forms an equivalent ratio will be accepted — experiment freely.
  4. Press Check when your mix matches the target ratio.

How to use it at home or in class

For a target of 1:2, pouring 3 units of Juice A and 6 units of Juice B is accepted because 3:6 simplifies to 1:2. Students see that the flavour — the ratio — stays the same regardless of total volume.

Students often fix one amount and only adjust the other, which rarely keeps the ratio correct. The game teaches that both quantities must scale together, correcting the common belief that only one side of a ratio can change.

Use it for individual practice, paired work, or a short class demonstration before worksheets.

Start with the game above, then continue with written practice to reinforce the skill.

Common questions

How does adjusting amounts in Ratio Mixer differ from filling a ratio table in the Ratio Table game?
Ratio Mixer asks students to find any valid combination by experimenting with two quantities simultaneously. Ratio Table presents a structured grid where students compute a single missing value using a fixed scaling factor.
Which grades is Ratio Mixer for?
Grades 5-6, where students first define ratio as a relationship between two quantities and explore equivalent ratios as part of the proportional reasoning strand.
Why does the game accept any equivalent ratio, not just the target numbers?
Accepting all equivalent forms is the lesson: 2:4 and 3:6 are the same ratio as 1:2. If only one answer were correct, students would guess numbers rather than understand why the ratio is preserved.