Question

the ratio of trumpet players to trombone players in the band is 5:3. what does this mean?
○a. for every 5 trombone players, there are 3 trumpet players.
○b. for every 5 trumpet players, there are 3 trombone players.
○c. there are 2 more trumpet players than trombone players.

Explanation:

In a ratio \(a:b\), \(a\) is compared to \(b\). Here, the ratio of trumpet players to trombone players is \(5:3\). This means for every \(5\) trumpet players (the first - named group in the ratio), there are \(3\) trombone players (the second - named group in the ratio).

• Option A has the groups reversed. It should be trumpet players first in the comparison as per the ratio \(5:3\).
• Option C is incorrect because a ratio \(5:3\) does not imply a difference of \(2\) in the actual number of players. The actual number of players could be \(5x\) trumpet players and \(3x\) trombone players (\(x\) is a positive real number), and the difference \(5x - 3x=2x\), which is not necessarily \(2\) unless \(x = 1\).

Answer:

B. For every 5 trumpet players, there are 3 trombone players.