The ratio (R) of the minimum strain axis to the maximum strain axis. In its simplest, two-dimensional form the long and short axes of initially circular markers are measured and plotted against one another; the slope of the best-fit line through the origin and a number of points is the strain ratio for that plane of measurement. More complex methods are employed to determine R minimum, R maximum, and R tectonic for initially non-spherical strain markers, e.g. conglomerate clasts.