A ratio is a way to compare two or more quantities, showing how much of one thing there is compared to another. For example, if there are 2 apples and 3 oranges, the ratio of apples to oranges is 2:3. This means for every 2 apples, there are 3 oranges. Ratios can help us understand relationships between different items, like in cooking or budgeting. Ratios can also be expressed in different forms, such as fractions or decimals. For instance, the ratio of 2:3 can be written as the fraction 2/3 or the decimal 0.67. Understanding ratios is useful in many areas, including math, science, and everyday life.