Simple method + examples
How to Simplify Ratios
To simplify a ratio, find a factor shared by every part and divide each part by it. Keep going until there is no common factor greater than 1.
The 3-step method
Example: simplify 20:30
The greatest common factor of 20 and 30 is 10. Divide both values by 10:
20 ÷ 10 : 30 ÷ 10 = 2:3
Example: simplify 12:18:30
The greatest common factor shared by 12, 18 and 30 is 6. Divide every part by 6:
12 ÷ 6 : 18 ÷ 6 : 30 ÷ 6 = 2:3:5
How to simplify ratios with decimals
First turn the decimal values into a whole-number ratio without changing their relationship. For 1.5:2.25, multiplying both values by 100 gives 150:225. Divide both by 75 to get 2:3.
How to simplify ratios with fractions
Use a common denominator to remove the fractions. For 1/2 : 3/4, multiply both values by 4. That gives 2:3, which is already simplest.
Try the calculator
Open the ratio simplifier Simplify 3 numbers
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to simplify a ratio?
It means writing an equivalent ratio using the smallest possible whole-number parts.
Do you simplify ratios the same way as fractions?
The core idea is similar: divide all parts by a common factor. A ratio can contain more than two parts, while a fraction has a numerator and denominator.
Can you simplify a ratio by dividing only one side?
No. To keep the ratio equivalent, every part must be multiplied or divided by the same value.