Fraction calculator
This calculator subtracts two fractions. First, convert all fractions to a common denominator when fractions have different denominators. Find Least Common Denominator (LCD) or multiply all denominators to find a common denominator. When all denominators are the same, simply subtract the numerators and place the result over the common denominator. Then simplify the result to the lowest terms or a mixed number.
The result:
1/2 - 1/7 = 5/14 ≅ 0.3571429
The spelled result in words is five fourteenths.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Subtract: 1/2 - 1/7 = 1 · 7/2 · 7 - 1 · 2/7 · 2 = 7/14 - 2/14 = 7 - 2/14 = 5/14
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, 7) = 14. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 2 × 7 = 14. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - one half minus one seventh is five fourteenths.
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 sign 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
• 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 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.
Fractions in word problems:
- 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? - Free time club
There are 60 children in a club 1/3 of them play football, 2/5 of them play cricket, and the rest play basketball. How many children play basketball - Dive Attempt
Dive Attempt ; Fraction of the distance to the pool bottom Dive 1; 1/4 Dive 2; 2/3 Dive 3; 5/6 Tony's second dive was deeper than his first dive by what fraction of the pool? - Her garden
Lira harvested 135 different flowers in her garden. Two-ninths of them are roses, and the rest are tulips. How many tulips are?
- The sum 34
The sum of two fractions is 5/6. One of the fractions is 1/2. What is the other fraction? - Difference mixed fractions
What is the difference between 4 2/3 and 3 1/6? - One-quarter 2484
Mom baked a bowl of cookies. The son took two-fifths of the cookies, the daughter one-quarter of the rest of the cookies. What part was left to the parents?
more math problems »
Last Modified: October 9, 2024