Which is an example of a ratio problem?

• A. 18 officer-hours
• B. 9 officer-hours
• C. 12 officer-hours
• D. 27 officer-hours

Answer: (A)

A ratio problem involves comparing two quantities and often forming a rate that expresses how one quantity relates to another. The unit “officer-hours” combines two factors—number of officers and hours worked—into one measurement of work done. This kind of combined unit is the kind you’d use when setting up a ratio (for example, work completed per officer or per hour). Because it explicitly ties together two variables, it naturally fits ratio reasoning. The other options are just raw totals of time or a single quantity and don’t by themselves set up or imply a relationship to another variable, so they don’t illustrate a ratio scenario.