In short: To share an amount in a ratio, add the ratio parts to find the total number of parts, divide the amount by that total to find the value of one part, then multiply each ratio number by the value of one part. For £60 shared 3:2, there are 5 parts worth £12 each, giving £36 and £24.
Knowing how to share an amount in a ratio is a common GCSE Foundation skill, used for splitting money, ingredients, time and prizes fairly. The reliable approach is the parts method: work out what one "part" is worth, then scale up. This guide walks through the method step by step, with a worked example you can follow.
The reliable method
A ratio tells you how many equal parts each share gets. Find the value of one part and the rest is multiplication.
- Add the ratio numbers together to find the total number of parts. A ratio of 3:2 has 3 + 2 = 5 parts.
- Divide the total amount by the number of parts to find the value of one part.
- Multiply each ratio number by the value of one part to find each share.
- Check your shares add back up to the original amount. This catches most mistakes.
- Write each share with its units, such as pounds or grams.
This works for any number of parts in the ratio — two, three or more — as long as you divide the amount into the correct total number of parts first.
A worked example
Share £60 between two people in the ratio 3:2. How much does each person receive?
Use the parts method.
Find the total number of parts:
- 3 + 2 = 5 parts in total
Find the value of one part:
- £60 ÷ 5 = £12 per part
Find each share by multiplying:
- First person: 3 parts × £12 = £36
- Second person: 2 parts × £12 = £24
Check the shares add up: £36 + £24 = £60, which matches the original amount.
This works because the ratio splits the money into 5 equal parts, and each part is worth the same £12. The person with 3 parts simply gets three of those equal pieces, and the person with 2 parts gets two.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Trap: dividing by one ratio number instead of the total. Dividing £60 by 3 or by 2 rather than by 5. Fix: always divide by the sum of all the parts.
- Trap: forgetting to multiply back up. Finding one part is worth £12 and stopping there. Fix: multiply £12 by each ratio number to get the actual shares.
- Trap: giving the shares to the wrong people. Swapping the 3 and the 2. Fix: keep the shares in the same order as the ratio in the question.
- Trap: treating the ratio as a difference, not a split. Thinking 3:2 means "£3 more". Fix: see [ratio additive vs multiplicative explained](/misconceptions/ratio-additive-vs-multiplicative).
Frequently asked questions
How do you divide a number in a ratio like 3 to 2? Add the parts to get 3 + 2 = 5, then divide the number by 5 to find the value of one part. Multiply each ratio number by that value. For 60 shared 3:2, one part is 12, so the shares are 36 and 24.
How do you find the value of one part in a ratio? Add all the ratio numbers to get the total parts, then divide the total amount by that number. For £40 shared in the ratio 4:1, there are 5 parts, so one part is £40 ÷ 5 = £8.
How do you share an amount in a ratio with three parts? Use the same method. Add all three numbers for the total parts, divide the amount by that total, then multiply each number by the value of one part. For 35 shared 4:3 there are 7 parts worth 5 each, giving 20 and 15.
How do you check your ratio sharing is correct? Add all the shares together. They should add up to exactly the original amount. If they do not, recheck how many parts you divided by and whether you multiplied each part back up.
Why do you add the ratio numbers first? Because the ratio splits the amount into equal parts, and the sum of the numbers tells you how many parts there are altogether. You need that total before you can work out what a single part is worth.
Practise this
Find out which mistakes cost marks — [take the free diagnostic](/diagnostic). Related: [ratio additive vs multiplicative explained](/misconceptions/ratio-additive-vs-multiplicative).