The Collaborative International Dictionary
Ratio \Ra"ti*o\ (r[=a]"sh[i^]*[-o] or r[=a]"sh[-o]), n. [L., fr. reri, ratus, to reckon, believe, think, judge. See Reason.]
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(Math.) The relation which one quantity or magnitude has to another of the same kind. It is expressed by the quotient of the division of the first by the second; thus, the ratio of 3 to 6 is expressed by 3/6 or 1/2; of a to b by a/b; or (less commonly) the second term is made the dividend; as, a:b = b/a.
Note: Some writers consider ratio as the quotient itself, making ratio equivalent to a number. [1913 Webster] The term ratio is also sometimes applied to the difference of two quantities as well as to their quotient, in which case the former is called arithmetical ratio, the latter, geometrical ratio. The name ratio is sometimes given to the rule of three in arithmetic. See under Rule.
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Hence, fixed relation of number, quantity, or degree; rate; proportion; as, the ratio of representation in Congress.
Compound ratio, Duplicate ratio, Inverse ratio, etc. See under Compound, Duplicate, etc.
Ratio of a geometrical progression, the constant quantity by which each term is multiplied to produce the succeeding one.
Inverse \In*verse"\, a. [L. inversus, p. p. of invertere: cf. F. inverse. See Invert.]
Opposite in order, relation, or effect; reversed; inverted; reciprocal; -- opposed to direct.
(Bot.) Inverted; having a position or mode of attachment the reverse of that which is usual.
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(Math.) Opposite in nature and effect; -- said with reference to any two operations, which, when both are performed in succession upon any quantity, reproduce that quantity; as, multiplication is the inverse operation to division. The symbol of an inverse operation is the symbol of the direct operation with -1 as an index. Thus sin-1 x means the arc or angle whose sine is x.
Inverse figures (Geom.), two figures, such that each point of either figure is inverse to a corresponding point in the order figure.
Inverse points (Geom.), two points lying on a line drawn from the center of a fixed circle or sphere, and so related that the product of their distances from the center of the circle or sphere is equal to the square of the radius.
Inverse ratio, or Reciprocal ratio (Math.), the ratio of the reciprocals of two quantities.
Inverse proportion, or Reciprocal proportion, an equality between a direct ratio and a reciprocal ratio; thus, 4 : 2 : : 1/3 : 1/6, or 4 : 2 : : 3 : 6, inversely.
Usage examples of "inverse ratio".
Its value and its civilization are in inverse ratio to that extortion.
The share of infamy that is likely to fall to the lot of each individual in public acts is small indeed, the operation of opinion being in the inverse ratio to the number of those who abuse power.
I verily believe that a man's way with women is in inverse ratio to his prowess among men.
Racial and/or religious persecutions of minorities stood in inverse ratio to the degree of a country’.
The degree one is required to strip is in inverse ratio to one's other talents.
First, I have found that a kind of universal inverse ratio applies, so that only about half of the first-timers respond again, and only half of the second-timers, and so on, so that the correspondence tends to damp out.
Thus it often happens that the purity of motives and sentiments stands in an inverse ratio to the goodness of the cause, and that its supposed assailants are more honest and more straightforward than its defenders.