Math Tools
Ratio Calculator
Simplify ratios, solve for missing values, and scale ratios instantly. Perfect for recipes, maps, mixing, and math.
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3 : 2
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What is a Ratio?
A ratio compares two quantities and shows how many times one value contains or is contained within the other. Ratios can be written as A:B, A/B, or "A to B". They are used everywhere from cooking (recipe scaling) to maps (1:50,000) to finance (price-to-earnings ratios).
- Simplifying: Divide both values by their Greatest Common Divisor (GCD). 12:8 → divide by 4 → 3:2.
- Solving: Use cross-multiplication: If A:B = C:D, then D = (B×C)/A.
- Scaling: Multiply both parts by the scale factor. 1:3 scaled by 5 = 5:15.
Frequently Asked Questions
A fraction compares a specific part to the entire whole (e.g., 3 slices out of an 8-slice pizza = 3/8). A ratio compares one part directly against another part (e.g., 3 slices of pepperoni to 5 slices of cheese = 3:5).
You scale ratios exactly like fractions—by dividing or multiplying both sides by their Greatest Common Divisor (GCD). For instance, a 12:8 screen ratio perfectly simplifies down to 3:2 by dividing both integers by 4.
Absolutely. Known as the 'Aspect Ratio', standard 1920x1080p monitors utilize a 16:9 pixel aspect ratio, dictating that the screen width is exactly 1.77 times wider than its absolute height.