Fraction calculator

This fractions calculator performs all fraction operations - addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and evaluates expressions with fractions. It also shows detailed step-by-step information.

The result:

(8/9 - 1/4)-(1/2 + 5/6) = -25/36 ≅ -0.6944444

The spelled result in words is minus twenty-five thirty-sixths.

How do we solve fractions step by step?

Subtract: 8/9 - 1/4 = 8 · 4/9 · 4 - 1 · 9/4 · 9 = 32/36 - 9/36 = 32 - 9/36 = 23/36
It is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common (equal, identical) denominator for adding, subtracting, and comparing fractions. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of both denominators - LCM(9, 4) = 36. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 9 × 4 = 36. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - eight ninths minus one quarter is twenty-three thirty-sixths.
Add: 1/2 + 5/6 = 1 · 3/2 · 3 + 5/6 = 3/6 + 5/6 = 3 + 5/6 = 8/6 = 2 · 4/2 · 3 = 4/3
It is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common (equal, identical) denominator for adding, subtracting, and comparing fractions. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of both denominators - LCM(2, 6) = 6. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 2 × 6 = 12. In the following intermediate step, cancel by a common factor of 2 gives 4/3.
In other words - one half plus five sixths is four thirds.
Subtract: the result of step No. 1 - the result of step No. 2 = 23/36 - 4/3 = 23/36 - 4 · 12/3 · 12 = 23/36 - 48/36 = 23 - 48/36 = -25/36
It is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common (equal, identical) denominator for adding, subtracting, and comparing fractions. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of both denominators - LCM(36, 3) = 36. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 36 × 3 = 108. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - twenty-three thirty-sixths minus four thirds is minus twenty-five thirty-sixths.

Rules for expressions with fractions:

Fractions - write a forward slash to separate the numerator and the denominator, i.e., for five-hundredths, enter 5/100. If you use mixed numbers, leave a space between the whole and fraction parts.

Mixed numerals (mixed numbers or fractions) - keep one space between the whole part and fraction and use a forward slash to input fraction i.e., 1 2/3 . A negative mixed fraction write for example as -5 1/2.
A slash is both a sign for fraction line and division, use a colon (:) for division fractions i.e., 1/2 : 1/3.
Decimals (decimal numbers) enter with a decimal dot . and they are automatically converted to fractions - i.e. 1.45.

Math Symbols

Symbol	Symbol name	Symbol Meaning	Example
+	plus sign	addition	1/2 + 1/3
-	minus sign	subtraction	1 1/2 - 2/3
*	asterisk	multiplication	*2/3 3/4**
×	times sign	multiplication	2/3 × 5/6
:	division sign	division	1/2 : 3
/	division slash	division	1/3 / 5
:	colon	complex fraction	1/2 : 1/3
^	caret	exponentiation / power	1/4^3
()	parentheses	calculate expression inside first	-3/5 - (-1/4)

The calculator follows well-known rules for the order of operations. The most common mnemonics for remembering this order of operations are:
PEMDAS - Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction.
BEDMAS - Brackets, Exponents, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction
BODMAS - Brackets, Of or Order, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.
GEMDAS - Grouping Symbols - brackets (){}, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction.
MDAS - Multiplication and Division have the same precedence over Addition and Subtraction. The MDAS rule is the order of operations part of the PEMDAS rule.
Be careful; always do multiplication and division before addition and subtraction. Some operators (+ and -) and (* and /) have the same priority and must be evaluated from left to right.