Quotidien

Rule of Three Calculator

The Rule of Three Calculator solves proportion problems in seconds – both direct (more means more) and inverse (more means less). Enter three values and instantly get the missing fourth value, along with the formula and the calculation.

✓ Vérifié par Julian Bronski · mis à jour juin 2026

Vos informations

01000000000+
01000000000+
01000000000+

Résultat

Result X – direct (more means more)
Result X – inverse (more means less)
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Comment fonctionne le Rule of Three Calculator

The rule of three finds an unknown fourth value from three known ones. A and B are a matching value pair, C is the third value and X is the result.

Direct proportion (more means more)

Formula: X = B × C ÷ A. Example: 3 kg of apples cost €12. What do 5 kg cost? → 12 × 5 ÷ 3 = €20.

Inverse proportion (more means less)

Formula: X = A × B ÷ C. Example: 3 workers need 12 hours. How long do 5 workers need? → 3 × 12 ÷ 5 = 7.2 hours.

The calculator shows both results at once – simply pick the one that fits your problem.

Questions fréquentes

How does the rule of three work?
The rule of three finds a fourth value from three known ones. You first reduce to a single unit, then scale up to the value you need. For direct proportion use X = B × C ÷ A; for inverse proportion use X = A × B ÷ C.
What is the difference between direct and inverse proportion?
In direct proportion both quantities grow together: more quantity means more cost. In inverse proportion they move in opposite directions: more workers means less time. Rule of thumb: if twice as much also gives twice as much, it is direct proportion.
What is the rule of three formula?
Direct: X = (B × C) ÷ A. Inverse: X = (A × B) ÷ C. Here A and B are the known value pair, C is the third value and X is the result you are looking for.
When do you use the rule of three in everyday life?
For converting prices and unit costs, scaling recipes up or down, working with map scales, and comparing speeds or working times – wherever two quantities stay in a fixed ratio to each other.

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