>>I am trying to help someone figure out a ratio table problem for their 6th grade homework.
>>
>>They are easy when the numbers go into one another, or the factor is simple to identify and solve for X:
>>

>> 160    [      ]    80
>>4000   [      ]    X
>>

>>

>>160    [  2   ]    80
>>4000   [ 2000 ]    50
>>

>>But I can't figure this one out (they do not use decimals in their work for this or I would just divide):
>>

>>50     [      ]    18
>>60     [      ]    X
>>

>>What can 50 be divide or multiplied by that can then be divided or multiplied to get 18?
>>
>>The answer is 2.6, but that can't be right because they do not use decimals. I can't see how it can be done otherwise.
>
>I'm not sure I understand the syntax you're using. But if I'm guessing right, in your first example X should be 2000 (i.e. 4000 * ( 80 / 160 ) )
>
>If that's correct, in the second example
>

>X = 60 * ( 18 / 50 )
>  = 1080 / 50
>  = 108 / 5
>

>Sometimes, if they don't use decimals, they're supposed to express the answer as a fraction.

We call one decimal fractions and the other "vulgar" fractions.