All 5 Uses

ratio
in
October Sky
(Auto-generated)

I suspected there were dimensional relationships involved in rocket design, such as a proper ratio between the area of the guidancecontrolling fins to the area of the casement.†
Chpt 10

ratio = relative quantities
"I fear the ratio of the mass of propellant added compared to the mass of the empty rocket will be too small," he said.†
Chpt 12 *
Perhaps there are ratios of wind pressure to velocity that can be mathematically calculated.†
Chpt 21
Every day I honed my spiel a little more so that I could quickly deliver a learned presentation on the mathematics of the design of De Laval nozzles, the calculations of specific impulse and mass ratios, and the trigonometry of altitudes needed for an amateur rocketry test range.†
Chpt 25
My interpretation of the definitions of specific impulse and mass ratio especially seemed to impress him.†
Chpt 25

Definitions:

(1) (ratio)
the relative magnitudes of two quantities -- often expressed as a:b (which could also be expressed as the fraction a/b)

For example, if a freshman class at a college is comprised of 400 men and 600 women, the ratio of men to women can be expressed as 400:600 or 4:6 or as the fraction 4/6 = ~67%
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)