When converting ratios to fractions which is the correct way of doing it? I've seen conflicting information that says the the denominator should be the total while other sources say the denominator can just be the second term.
For instance, if we have 3 apples, and 4 oranges, the ratio of apples to oranges can be written as:
$3:4$
When writing as a fraction, we can either write:
$\frac{3}{4}$
or
$\frac{3}{3+4}$ = $\frac{3}{7}$
Further when we convert this to a percent, I have seen this converted to either
$75\%$
which would mean there are 75% as many apples as oranges.
But it might also be written as
$43\%$
where the number of apples is 43% of the total items.
Are both fine as long as you are clear what you are trying to represent?
Yes, as long as you know that $3/7$ is apples in a whole basket(lets say) and $3/4$ is relative, ie there are 3 apples for 4 oranges and that when you need to use which.