Ratio Calculator – Simplify, Scale & Solve Proportions
What is a Ratio?
A ratio is a comparison of two quantities. It shows how many times one value contains or is contained by another. Ratios are written as A:B or A/B and are used across cooking, finance, engineering, and everyday life. This calculator supports three common ratio operations: simplifying, scaling, and solving proportions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I simplify a ratio?
To simplify a ratio A:B, find the Greatest Common Divisor (GCD) of A and B, then divide both by it. For example, 12:8 — GCD is 4, so the simplified ratio is 3:2.
What is a proportion?
A proportion states that two ratios are equal: A:B = C:D. If three values are known, the fourth can be found using D = (B × C) / A. This is used in cooking, map reading, and scaling problems.
How do I scale a ratio?
To scale a ratio A:B by a factor n, multiply both parts: (A×n):(B×n). For example, ratio 2:3 scaled by 4 gives 8:12. The ratios are equivalent.
What is the difference between ratio and fraction?
A fraction (3/5) represents a part of a whole, while a ratio (3:5) compares two separate quantities. The ratio 3:5 means for every 3 of A there are 5 of B, totalling 8 parts.
How are ratios used in real life?
Ratios appear in cooking (recipe scaling), maps (1:50,000 scale), finance (P/E ratio), mixing paint or cement, aspect ratios of screens (16:9), and currency exchange rates.
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