Fraction calculator
This calculator subtracts two fractions. When fractions have different denominators, firstly convert all fractions to common denominator. Find Least Common Denominator (LCD) or simple multiply all denominators to find common denominator. When all denominators are 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.
Result:
1/2 - 3/5 = -1/10 = -0.1
Spelled result in words is minus one tenth.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Subtract: 1/2 - 3/5 = 1 · 5/2 · 5 - 3 · 2/5 · 2 = 5/10 - 6/10 = 5 - 6/10 = -1/10
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(2, 5) = 10. In practice, it is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 2 × 5 = 10. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - one half minus three fifths is minus one tenth.
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:
- Package
The package was 23 meters of textile. The first day sold 12.3 meters. How many meters of textile remained in the package?
- 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.
- 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?
- 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?
- Whole pie
If you have one whole pie and 1/2 is giving away and 1/4 is eaten and how much do you have left
- Sundar
Sundar has 50 chocolates. He gave 2/5 of these chocolates to Ram and he ate 1/5 of them. How many chocolates are left with Sundar?
- Cherries 2
If a farmer reaped 636 cherries and he sold one third to a shop keeper, how many did he retain?
- Difference between fractions
What is the difference when you take away 1/6 from 2/8?
- The entity
What is the difference between seven tenths of an entity and seven fifteenths of the same entity? Please solve it for me.
- Fraction expression
Which expression is equivalent to : minus 9 minus left parenthesis minus 4 start fraction 1 divided by 3 end fraction right parenthesis
- Difference of two fractions
What is the difference between 1/2 and 1/6? (Write the answer as a fraction in lowest terms. )
more math problems »