The document discusses ratios and proportions, which can be used to calculate problems involving missing terms or unknown values. Ratios indicate the relationship between two numbers using a colon, and can represent things like medication strength or nurse-to-patient ratios. Proportions are equations of equal ratios written in different formats, and the relationship between means and extremes can be used to solve for an unknown value or term represented by x. Ratios and proportions are also used in dosage calculations to determine unknown values of drugs based on known amounts.