Easily simplify any two-part ratio. Our calculator finds the greatest common divisor to reduce your ratio and shows the step-by-step math for students.
How Ratio Simplification Works
A ratio is a way to compare two amounts. For example, if you have 10 blue marbles and 5 red marbles, your ratio is 10:5. Simplifying a ratio is just like simplifying a fraction; you want to find the smallest whole numbers that still show the same relationship.
To simplify, you look for the biggest number that can divide into both parts perfectly. This is called the Greatest Common Divisor (GCD). In our 10:5 example, the number 5 goes into both 10 and 5.
- 10 ÷ 5 = 2
- 5 ÷ 5 = 1
- Simplified Ratio: 2:1
This means for every 2 blue marbles, there is 1 red marble. Ratios are used everywhere, from mixing paint colors to following recipes and even in sports statistics!