A ratio compares two quantities. "4:6" means for every 4 of A there are 6 of B. Simplified, that's 2:3. Ratios are used in recipes, maps, finance (e.g. debt:equity), mixing paints and cement, and dividing profits.
Divide both sides by their Greatest Common Divisor (GCD). Example: 12:18 — GCD is 6, so 12÷6 : 18÷6 = 2:3.
How do I split an amount in a ratio?
Add the ratio parts together to get the total parts. Divide the amount by total parts to get one part, then multiply each ratio value by one part. E.g. split £700 in ratio 2:5 — total 7 parts, one part = £100, so A gets £200 and B gets £500.
What is an equivalent ratio?
Equivalent ratios have the same simplified form. 2:3, 4:6, 6:9 and 20:30 are all equivalent — they all simplify to 2:3.