How to use the Ratio Simplifier
Enter the first and second values of the ratio. Decimals with up to four places are scaled to whole numbers before simplifying.
How ratios are simplified
Find the largest number that divides both sides and divide by it. For 12:18 that number is 6, giving 2:3. With decimals, first multiply both sides by the same power of 10: 1.5:2.5 becomes 15:25, and dividing by 5 gives 3:5.
Ratios in real life
A 1920 by 1080 screen simplifies to 16:9, the standard widescreen shape. Recipes, concrete mixes and paint tints are given as ratios so you can scale them up. Simplifying first makes them easier to remember and to check, because 3:5 is clearer than 1.5:2.5.
How it works
Divide both ratio terms by their greatest common divisor.
Examples
- With the default values
Simplified ratio: 2 : 3
- With first ratio value set to 24
Simplified ratio: 4 : 3
Limitations and assumptions
Accepts positive values with up to four decimal places.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use decimals?
Yes, up to four decimal places. The tool scales them to whole numbers before simplifying.
What is 1920:1080 simplified?
16:9.
Is a ratio the same as a fraction?
They are close. The ratio 2:3 compares two parts, while the fraction 2/5 is one part out of the whole of 2 + 3.