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:

1/12 + 4 + 13/28 = 191/42 = 4 23/424.547619

The result spelled out in words is one hundred ninety-one forty-seconds (or four and twenty-three forty-seconds).

How do we solve fractions step by step?

  1. Add: 1/12 + 4 = 1/12 + 4/1 = 1/12 + 4 · 12/1 · 12 = 1/12 + 48/12 = 1 + 48/12 = 49/12
    The second operand is an integer. It is equivalent to the fraction 4/1. It is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common (equal) denominator for adding fractions. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of both denominators - LCM(12, 1) = 12. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 12 × 1 = 12. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
    In other words, one twelfth plus four equals forty-nine twelfths.
  2. Add: the result of step No. 1 + 13/28 = 49/12 + 13/28 = 49 · 7/12 · 7 + 13 · 3/28 · 3 = 343/84 + 39/84 = 343 + 39/84 = 382/84 = 2 · 191/2 · 42 = 191/42
    It is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common (equal) denominator for adding fractions. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of both denominators - LCM(12, 28) = 84. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 12 × 28 = 336. In the following intermediate step, cancel by a common factor of 2 gives 191/42.
    In other words, forty-nine twelfths plus thirteen twenty-eighths equals one hundred ninety-one forty-seconds.

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


SymbolSymbol nameSymbol MeaningExample
+plus signaddition 1/2 + 1/3
-minus signsubtraction 1 1/2 - 2/3
*asteriskmultiplication 2/3 * 3/4
×times signmultiplication 2/3 × 5/6
:division signdivision 1/2 : 3
/division slashdivision 1/3 / 5
:coloncomplex fraction 1/2 : 1/3
^caretexponentiation / power 1/4^3
()parenthesescalculate 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 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.
Important Notes:
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.

Last Modified: May 12, 2025