Equivalent ratios are ratios that make the same comparison of numbers.

Two ratios are equivalent if one can be expressed as a multiple of the other.

The following ratios are equivalent.

2 : 4 : 8

10 : 20 : 40

1 : 2 : 4

0.5 : 1 : 2

0.25 : 0.5 : 1

When possible, it is usually best to express the ratio using natural numbers that are relatively prime.

In this example, that ratio is 1 : 2 : 4.

Although any ratio above can be expressed as a multiple of any of the other ratios above,

they are all expressed as a multiple of 1 : 2 : 4 below:

2 : 4 : 8 = 2( 1 : 2 : 4 )

10 : 20 : 40 = 10( 1 : 2 : 4 )

1 : 2 : 4 = 1( 1 : 2 : 4 )

0.5 : 1 : 2 = 0.5( 1 : 2 : 4 )

0.25 : 0.5 : 1 = 0.25( 1 : 2 : 4 )

The following ratios, expressed as fractions, are equivalent.

In this example, the ratio expressed using relatively prime natural numbers is two-thirds.