Poor number sense can cause big mistakes when working with ratios in Year 8 math. Here’s how these problems happen:

1. Confusing Ratios: Sometimes, students might see the ratio $2:3$ and mistakenly think it means $2 + 3 = 5$. They don't realize that it shows a relationship between two numbers.

2. Scaling Errors: If students need to scale a recipe with a $1:2$ ratio, they might just double the $1$. They don't get that for every $1$ part of one ingredient, there are $2$ parts of the other.

Tips to Avoid Mistakes:

• Visual Tools: Use pictures or models to help understand ratios better.
• Practice Regularly: Work with ratios in different situations to get used to them.

By improving number sense, students will get better at understanding and using ratios.