Fraction calculator
This calculator performs basic and advanced fraction operations, expressions with fractions combined with integers, decimals, and mixed numbers. It also shows detailed step-by-step information about the fraction calculation procedure. The calculator helps in finding value from multiple fractions operations. Solve problems with two, three, or more fractions and numbers in one expression.
Result:
-3/5 - (-1/4) = -7/20 = -0.35
Spelled result in words is minus seven twentieths.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Unary minus: -3/5 = -3/5
- Subtract: the result of step No. 1 - (-1/4) = -3/5 - (-1/4) = -3 · 4/5 · 4 - (-1) · 5/4 · 5 = -12/20 - (-5/20) = -12 - (-5)/20 = -7/20
For adding, subtracting, and comparing fractions, it is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common (equal, identical) denominator. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of both denominators - LCM(5, 4) = 20. In practice, it is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 5 × 4 = 20. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - minus three fifths minus minus one quarter is minus seven twentieths.
Rules for expressions with fractions:
Fractions - use a forward slash to divide the numerator by 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 integer and
fraction and use a forward slash to input fractions i.e., 1 2/3 . An example of a negative mixed fraction: -5 1/2.
Because slash is both signs for fraction line and division, use a colon (:) as the operator of division fractions i.e., 1/2 : 1/3.
Decimals (decimal numbers) enter with a decimal point . 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
• multiplying a fraction by a whole number: 6 * 3/4
• square root of a fraction: sqrt(1/16)
• reducing or simplifying the fraction (simplification) - dividing the numerator and denominator of a fraction by the same non-zero number - equivalent fraction: 4/22
• 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 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 /) has the same priority and then must evaluate from left to right.
Fractions in word problems:
- Peter's calculation
Peter wrote the following: 7 1/4 - 3 3/4 = 4 2/4 = 4 1/2 . Is Peter’s calculation correct? Using words (math vocabulary) and numbers explain why he is correct or incorrect.
- Package
The package was 23 meters of textile. The first day sold 12.3 meters. How many meters of textile remained in the package?
- Sadie
Sadie practiced her spelling words for 3/4 of an hour, and Max practiced his spelling words for 5/12 of an hour. In the simplest form, how much longer did Sadie practice than Max?
- Cherries 2
If a farmer reaped 636 cherries and he sold one third to a shop keeper, how many did he retain?
- From a
From a 1 meter ribbon, Ericka cut 2/4 meter for her hat and another 1/4 meter for her bag. How long was the remaining piece?
- Difference between fractions
What is the difference when you take away 1/6 from 2/8?
- Mr. Vandar
Mr. Vandar washed 1/4 of his laundry . His son washed 2/7 of it. Who washed most of the laundry? How much of the laundry still needs to be washed?
- Shopper
Eva spent 1/4 in one store and 1/3 in another. What fraction is left?
- The bread 2
Sandra and Tylar baked 2 loaves of bread. On Monday they ate 1/2 of one loaf. On Tuesday they ate 1/3 of one loaf of bread. How much bread was left?
- Fraction expression
Which expression is equivalent to : minus 9 minus left parenthesis minus 4 start fraction 1 divided by 3 end fraction right parenthesis
- The recipe
The recipe they are following requires 7/8 cups of milk, Tom already put 3/8 cups of milk. How much milk should Lea add to follow the recipe?
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