Ratio Simplifier

Understanding Ratio Simplification

A ratio is a comparison between two quantities. Simplifying a ratio means reducing it to its simplest form while keeping the proportion the same. This is done by dividing both parts of the ratio by their greatest common divisor (GCD).

For example, the ratio 12:18 can be simplified by finding the GCD of 12 and 18, which is 6. Dividing both parts by 6 gives us the simplified ratio 2:3. This means that 12:18 is equivalent to 2:3, but 2:3 is in its simplest form because 2 and 3 have no common factors other than 1.

Simplifying ratios makes them easier to understand and compare. It's commonly used in cooking, scaling recipes, understanding maps, and in various mathematical problems.

Example:

If you have a recipe that calls for 3 cups of flour and 9 cups of water, the ratio of flour to water is 3:9. To simplify this ratio, divide both parts by their GCD, which is 3. Simplified ratio: (3÷3) : (9÷3) = 1:3. So, for every 1 cup of flour, you need 3 cups of water.