Divide a supply
A 3:2 allocation of 250 sheets gives 150 sheets to the first group and 100 sheets to the second.
Reduce a ratio and divide a total
Positive decimals work too: 1.5:1 reduces to 3:2. The total must use the same units for both shares.
Results
Simplest whole-number ratio
3:2
First share
150
Second share
100
First share = total × first part ÷ sum of parts. Rounded visual percentages do not affect the exact calculations.
Exact shares: 150 and 100
First part for every one second part
1.5
Calculations and exports run locally in your browser. Your entries are not sent to a calculation service.
How to use the Ratio Calculator
- 01
Enter the first and second ratio parts in matching units. At least one part must be positive.
- 02
Enter the total quantity you want to distribute between the two parts.
- 03
Read the reduced ratio, the two shares, and the first-to-second unit rate. Copy or download the allocation.
Examples
Simplify decimal parts
A ratio of 1.5 to 1 has the same proportions as 3:2. Clearing decimal denominators before finding the greatest common divisor makes this reduction exact.
Keep zero as a real part
A 0:4 ratio reduces to 0:1. Splitting 60 units gives zero to the first part and all 60 to the second.
Ratio parts are relative weights
A 3:2 ratio contains five parts in total. The first share is total × 3 ÷ 5, and the second is total × 2 ÷ 5. The ratio does not imply there are only five objects; any common scale preserves it.
Part-to-part differs from part-to-whole
The ratio 3:2 describes the first share compared with the second. The first share is 3/5, or 60%, of the combined total. Confusing 3/2 with 3/5 produces a different result, so the calculator labels both shares explicitly.
Discrete quantities need an allocation rule
The exact split can contain fractions. A 2:1 split of ten tickets gives 20/3 and 10/3, which cannot be allocated as literal whole tickets. This tool leaves the shares exact rather than choosing who receives a rounding remainder.
What to know
- Two ratio parts only; whole-object remainders are not allocated.
- Decimal displays truncate after 12 places, while exact fractional shares are retained.
Common questions
Can both parts be zero?
No. A zero-to-zero ratio has no defined proportion. A single zero part is valid and receives none of the total.
Can I use a negative ratio?
This workflow is for nonnegative allocation weights and rejects negative parts or totals. Signed algebraic ratios need a different interpretation.
Can I simplify a ratio without splitting anything?
Yes. Leave the total at its example value and read the reduced ratio. Changing the total never changes the reduced ratio.