Simplifying Ratios — How to do it

Simplify this ratio12 : 18

Step 1 — Find the highest common factorThe biggest number that divides both 12 and 18 is HCF = 6

Step 2 — Divide both parts by the HCF12 ÷ 6 = 2 · 18 ÷ 6 = 3

Step 3 — Write the simplest formSimplest ratio = 2 : 3

Your turn — simplest form: :

The trick is always the same: find the HCF (highest common factor) of both numbers, then divide both parts by it. When the two numbers share no factor bigger than 1, you're done.