Proporcio

Proporcio is a term used in several languages to denote the concept of proportion—the relationship between quantities or parts of a whole. The word comes from Latin proportio, meaning a balance or measure of parts, and appears in mathematical, scientific, and everyday contexts.

Mathematics defines a proportion as an equality of two ratios, such as a/b = c/d, with b and d nonzero. A proportion expresses that two fractions describe the same relationship. When a proportion holds, cross-multiplication yields ad = bc. Proportions are central to similarity in geometry and to handling unit rates and scale in real-world problems.

In statistics and measurement, a proportion is the part of a population that possesses a given attribute, often expressed as a decimal or percentage, for example, the proportion of voters in a sample who support a policy.

In design, art, and architecture, proportion concerns the size relationships among parts of a whole. The study of human figure proportions and the use of aesthetic ratios, such as the golden ratio, illustrate how proportions influence perception and beauty.

In science and law, proportionality describes how one quantity grows or shrinks in relation to another (direct or inverse proportion). In law and policy, the principle of proportionality requires that actions be appropriate and not excessive relative to their aims.