Decimal to Ratio Calculator

Enter a decimal below to convert it to a ratio.

By

Joe Sexton

Joe is the creator of Inch Calculator and has over 20 years of experience in engineering and construction. He holds several degrees and certifications.

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Reviewed by

Pateakia Heath, PhD

Pateakia has worked in education for 15 years and has three degrees, including a PhD, Master's degree, and Bachelor's degree. She specializes in mathematics.

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How to Convert a Decimal to a Ratio

You might come across a need to express a decimal as a ratio, and that’s possible to do in a few easy steps.

Step One: Express the Decimal as a Fraction

The first step in converting a decimal to a ratio is to express the decimal as a fraction. You can use a decimal to fraction calculator to do that, but you can also do it yourself.

To convert a decimal to a fraction, start by making the decimal the numerator of a fraction over a denominator of 1. Then, continue multiplying both the numerator and denominator by 10 until the numerator is a whole number.

You can optionally simplify the fraction at this point.

Step Two: Rewrite the Fraction as a Ratio

The second step in converting a decimal to a ratio is to rewrite the fraction in ratio form. To do so, place the numerator in front of the denominator and separate them with a colon (:) symbol.

For example, convert 3.5 to a ratio.

Start by converting 3.5 to a fraction.
3.5 = 3.5 / 1
3.5 = (3.5 × 10) / (1 × 10)
3.5 = 35 / 10

Then simplify.
35 / 10 = (35 ÷ 5) / (10 ÷ 5)
35 / 10 = 7 / 2

Finally, rewrite as a ratio.
7 / 2 = 7:2

Thus, the ratio is 7:2

You’ll probably also find our ratio to decimal calculator useful.