3. There are 35 items on a bookshelf. 14 of them are magazines and the rest are newspapers. What is the ratio of newspapers to magazines? Write your answer using the three notations. \( (: \), to \( / /) \)

To find the number of newspapers, we subtract the number of magazines from the total items on the shelf: \( 35 - 14 = 21 \) newspapers. Now, the ratio of newspapers to magazines can be expressed in three ways: \( 21:14 \), \( 21 \text{ to } 14 \), or \( 21/14 \). You can simplify this ratio by dividing both numbers by 7, resulting in \( 3:2 \), \( 3 \text{ to } 2 \), or \( 3/2 \). Now, let's talk about why ratios matter! They help us understand relationships between different quantities. For instance, knowing the ratio of newspapers to magazines can help a store decide how to stock them—ensuring they have plenty of what customers are looking for! Plus, once you get the hang of ratios, you can apply this skill in cooking, budgeting, and even sports statistics.