11+ Maths: Understanding Proportion: Step-by-Step Example
22 October 2026
Understanding proportion helps you solve questions where amounts increase or decrease in the same way. If you know how much of one thing you need for a certain amount, you can work out how much you need for a different amount.
Worked example
A recipe uses 2 eggs for every 5 cakes. How many eggs are needed for 15 cakes?
Step 1: Find out how many times 5 fits into 15.
15 ÷ 5 = 3
Step 2: Multiply the number of eggs by this amount.
2 × 3 = 6
The correct answer is 6 eggs.
Now you can see how to use proportion to find the answer step by step. This type of question often comes up in 11+ Maths, so practising similar problems will help you feel more confident.
