What are Equal Ratios? Definition and Examples

Equal ratios are ratios that have the same value when written as a decimal.

For example, 2/5, 4/10, 8/20 are equal ratios because they are all equal to the same decimal number 0.4.

Another Example Showing Equal ratios

Peter is trying to save money to buy a new laptop. For every 20 dollars he earns, he saves 5 dollars.

Saved         $5           $10        $15          $20

Earned       $20         $40        $60          $80       

5/20, 10/40, 15/60, and 20/80 are all equal ratios because they are all equal to the same decimal 0.25.

A quick way to check if two ratios are equal is to cross multiply them. If you get the same product, then they are equal ratios.

$5           $10       

$20         $40             

$5 times $40 = 200

10 times $20 = 200

Since you get the same product, 5/20 and 10/40 are equal ratios