proportionally

Everyday

1. In a way that keeps the same ratio, so that when one amount changes, the other changes by the same scale: «If you double the recipe, increase everything proportionally.» tree →
2. Fairly and in the right size compared with something else: «Punishments should be given proportionally.» tree →

In the lessons

In maths, cooking, maps and science, things that change proportionally keep the same ratio. In fairness and law it means not too much and not too little. Phrases: «increase proportionally», «proportionally more», «shared proportionally».

Examples

• If you double the cake recipe, add all the ingredients proportionally. tree →
• The map shrinks the whole country proportionally. tree →
• The prize money was shared proportionally to how much each person paid. tree →
• Big dogs eat proportionally more than small dogs. tree →
• When you resize a photo, keep the sides proportionally the same. tree →
• The punishment should be proportionally fair to what was done. tree →

Note

Adjective: proportional; noun: proportion. Maths: if y is proportional to x, y = k × x, so doubling x doubles y (2 pens cost £3, so 4 pens cost £6). «Proportionally» is the same as «in proportion».