How do you simplify the ratio 24:36?

To simplify the ratio 24:36, divide both numbers by their greatest common divisor, which is 12, resulting in 2:3.

To simplify a ratio, you need to find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the two numbers. The GCD is the largest number that can divide both numbers without leaving a remainder. For the numbers 24 and 36, you can list their factors to find the GCD. The factors of 24 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24. The factors of 36 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 36. The largest common factor is 12.

Next, you divide both numbers in the ratio by the GCD. So, you divide 24 by 12, which gives you 2, and you divide 36 by 12, which gives you 3. Therefore, the simplified ratio of 24:36 is 2:3.

Simplifying ratios is similar to simplifying fractions. It helps to make comparisons easier and more understandable. By reducing the numbers to their simplest form, you can more easily see the relationship between the quantities. In this case, for every 2 parts of the first quantity, there are 3 parts of the second quantity. This method can be applied to any ratio to make it simpler and more manageable.