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Ratio Calculator

A ratio compares two quantities. This reduces any ratio to its simplest whole-number form, and — if you give it a third number — solves the proportion to find the missing fourth. Handy for recipes, scale drawings, mixing and maps.

Your numbers

To solve A:B = C:?, enter C. Leave 0 to just simplify.

Result

Simplified ratio
2:3
Missing value (A:B = C:?)
30
the fourth term D
As a decimal (A ÷ B)
0.67
As a percentage
66.67%
The ratio in different forms
FormValue
Simplified ratio2:3
As a fraction2/3
As a decimal0.6667
As a percentage66.67%
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Simplifying a ratio

To reduce a ratio, divide both sides by their greatest common divisor. For 8:12 the GCD is 4, so it simplifies to 2:3 — the same relationship in the smallest whole numbers. That is exactly how you reduce a fraction, because a ratio A:B and the fraction A/B carry the same information.

Solving a proportion

A proportion says two ratios are equal: A:B = C:D. If you know three of the four, cross-multiplying finds the last: D = B × C ÷ A. So 8:12 = 20:? gives 12 × 20 ÷ 8 = 30. Enter a value in the Scale A to field to solve it — useful for scaling a recipe, enlarging a drawing, or converting a map distance.

Ratio, fraction, decimal, percent

The same comparison wears several outfits. 2:3 is the fraction 2/3, the decimal 0.667, and about 66.7%. Ratios usually compare parts to parts (2 parts water to 3 parts cement), while a fraction or percent compares a part to the whole. Keep track of which one a problem is really asking for.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

  • Euclidean algorithm for the greatest common divisor
  • Cross-multiplication for solving proportions

Embed this calculator

Copy the code and paste it into your site or blog. Credit with a link back to Contania is included, and the height adjusts itself.

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