What term is used to compare relationships between numbers?

The term that best describes the comparison of relationships between numbers is ratios. A ratio is a mathematical expression that shows the relative size of two quantities, indicating how many times one value contains or is contained within another.

For example, if there are 2 apples and 3 oranges, the ratio of apples to oranges can be expressed as 2:3. This illustrates the relationship between the quantity of apples and the quantity of oranges, highlighting how they relate to each other in terms of count.

Looking at the other terms: statistics involve the collection, analysis, interpretation, presentation, and organization of data, which is a broader concept than simply comparing two numbers. Proportions, while related to ratios, specifically refer to an equation that states that two ratios are equal. Fractions represent parts of a whole rather than directly comparing relationships between two distinct quantities. Therefore, ratios are the most precise term for comparing such relationships between numbers.