A ratio of 1:16 indicates a relationship where one part of a whole is compared to sixteen parts of another. This means for every one unit of the first quantity, there are sixteen units of the second. Ratios are often used in various fields, such as cooking, where ingredients might be mixed in specific proportions. In practical terms, if you have a solution with a 1:16 ratio, it means that for every 1 milliliter of substance A, there are 16 milliliters of substance B. This concept is essential in areas like chemistry, nutrition, and finance to express relationships clearly and concisely.