Fraction calculator
This fraction calculator performs all fraction operations - addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and evaluates expressions with fractions. It also shows detailed step-by-step information.
The result:
-2/7 - 1/2 = -11/14 ≅ -0.7857143
The result spelled out in words is minus eleven fourteenths.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Unary minus: -2/7 = -2/7
- Subtract: the result of step No. 1 - 1/2 = -2/7 - 1/2 = -2 · 2/7 · 2 - 1 · 7/2 · 7 = -4/14 - 7/14 = -4 - 7/14 = -11/14
It is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common (equal) denominator for subtracting fractions. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of both denominators - LCM(7, 2) = 14. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 7 × 2 = 14. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words, minus two sevenths minus one half equals minus eleven fourteenths.
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) |
Examples:
• adding fractions: 2/4 + 3/4• subtracting fractions: 2/3 - 1/2
• multiplying fractions: 7/8 * 3/9
• dividing Fractions: 1/2 : 3/4
• reciprocal of a fraction: 1 : 3/4
• square of a fraction: 2/3 ^ 2
• cube of a fraction: 2/3 ^ 3
• exponentiation of a fraction: 1/2 ^ 4
• fractional exponents: 16 ^ 1/2
• adding fractions and mixed numbers: 8/5 + 6 2/7
• dividing integer and fraction: 5 ÷ 1/2
• complex fractions: 5/8 : 2 2/3
• decimal to fraction: 0.625
• Fraction to Decimal: 1/4
• Fraction to Percent: 1/8 %
• comparing fractions: 1/4 2/3
• square root of a fraction: sqrt(1/16)
• expression with brackets: 1/3 * (1/2 - 3 3/8)
• compound fraction: 3/4 of 5/7
• fractions multiple: 2/3 of 3/5
• divide to find the quotient: 3/5÷2/3
The calculator follows well-known rules for the order of operations. The most common mnemonics for remembering this order are:
- PEMDAS: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction.
- BEDMAS: Brackets, Exponents, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.
- BODMAS: Brackets, Order (or "Of"), Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.
- GEMDAS: Grouping symbols (brackets: (){}), Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction.
- MDAS: Multiplication and Division (same precedence), Addition and Subtraction (same precedence). MDAS is a subset of PEMDAS.
1. Multiplication/Division vs. Addition/Subtraction: Always perform multiplication and division *before* addition and subtraction.
2. Left-to-Right Rule: Operators with the same precedence (e.g., + and -, or * and /) must be evaluated from left to right.
Fractions in word problems:
- Reduce fractions
The following fraction is reduced to its lowest terms except one. Which of these: A. 98/99 B. 73/179 C. 1/250 D. 81/729
- Simplify 12
Simplify {1/3 + 1/12} ÷ {2/3 - 5/8}
- A sixth of a million
Please, how much is 2/6 of 10,000,000,- USD?
- Mass fraction 2
What fraction is 60kg of 150kg?
- Doughnuts
2/3 of the doughnuts in a box have frosting. 1/2 of the doughnuts with frosting have sprinkles. What fraction of the doughnuts in the box have frosting and sprinkles?
- Puppies
At an animal rescue, 5/6 of the animals are dogs. Three-fourths of the dogs are puppies. This model represents the fraction of the animals at the rescue that is puppies. What fraction of the animals at the rescue are puppies?
- Learnes
There are 800 learners in a school 7/8 of the learners walk to school. How many learners walk in school?
more math problems »
Last Modified: June 23, 2025