Ratio Calculator
Simplifies a ratio of two or more terms to lowest terms, the same way a fraction reduces, and can split a total amount between the parts if you give it one.
How it works
How the Ratio Calculator works
the part a result on its own leaves out
A ratio is a fraction wearing different notation
6:8 and 6/8 say the same thing about how two quantities compare, and they simplify the same way — divide every term by their greatest common factor. 6:8 becomes 3:4 for exactly the reason 6/8 becomes 3/4.
What splitting a total by a ratio means
A ratio of 2:3 says the second quantity is always 1.5 times the first, whatever the actual sizes are. Splitting a total of 100 in that ratio finds the specific pair, 40 and 60, that keeps that relationship while adding to 100.
Common mistakes
Common mistakes with ratios
the errors that actually show up, not every possible slip
Simplifying only one term
6:8 does not become 3:8 — every term in the ratio divides by the same common factor, or the relationship between the parts changes.
Dividing the total by the number of terms instead of by the ratio
Splitting 100 in the ratio 2:3 is not 50 and 50. The parts are unequal on purpose; dividing evenly ignores the ratio entirely.
Treating a ratio like a fixed amount instead of a relationship
2:3 does not mean 'exactly 2 and 3' — it means the second is always 1.5 times the first. 2:3, 4:6 and 100:150 are all the same ratio.
Questions
Asked often enough to answer here
answers that change how you work
How do I simplify a ratio?
Divide every term by their greatest common factor, the same way a fraction reduces. 6:8 divides by 2 to give 3:4.
How do I split a number in a given ratio?
Add the ratio's terms to get the total number of parts, then give each share that many parts out of the total. Splitting 100 in the ratio 2:3 gives 5 parts total, worth 20 each, so 40 and 60.
Can a ratio have more than two terms?
Yes — 4:6:8 compares three quantities at once and simplifies to 2:3:4 the same way, dividing every term by their shared greatest common factor.
Does a ratio work the same as a fraction?
For two terms, yes — 3:4 and 3/4 carry the same information, simplify the same way, and convert directly. A ratio with three or more terms has no single fraction equivalent.
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