2.3 A recipe nceds \( \frac{3}{4} \) cups of rugar, \( 1 \frac{1}{2} \) cups of flour and a \( \frac{1}{3} \) cup of milk. Write the ratio of the ingredients in the simplest form.

To find the ratio of the ingredients, let's convert all measurements to fractions with a common denominator. The fractions are \( \frac{3}{4} \) cups of sugar, \( \frac{3}{2} \) cups of flour, and \( \frac{1}{3} \) cup of milk. The least common multiple (LCM) of the denominators 4, 2, and 3 is 12. Now, we convert each fraction: - Sugar: \( \frac{3}{4} = \frac{9}{12} \) - Flour: \( \frac{3}{2} = \frac{18}{12} \) - Milk: \( \frac{1}{3} = \frac{4}{12} \) We can then express the ratio as \( 9 : 18 : 4 \). To simplify this, divide each part by the greatest common divisor, which is 1, yielding \( 9 : 18 : 4 \) as the simplest ratio. However, dividing everything by 9 gives us \( 1 : 2 : \frac{4}{9} \), which is not a typical simplified ratio. Thus, the ratio of sugar, flour, and milk in simplest form is \( 9 : 18 : 4 \). For practical uses, when baking, precise measurements can make or break the end result. For example, if you scale a recipe, maintaining the same ratio is crucial to achieve the desired taste and texture. Miscalculations can lead to overly sweet, dry, or unevenly baked goods. Imagine a cake that puffs up too much because flour is added incorrectly! Always double-check your measurements, and remember that a good kitchen scale can be your best friend in achieving those perfect ratios. Another fun fact: the art of cooking and baking has a rich history dating back to ancient civilizations. The earliest known baking was done by the Egyptians who made bread around 3000 BC. They even perfected techniques to make bread rise, setting the foundation for many modern recipes. It’s fascinating to think that when you bake bread today, you’re partaking in a culinary tradition that has evolved over thousands of years!