Calculator expression with brackets
This fraction calculator performs all fraction operations - addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and evaluates expressions with fractions. It also shows detailed step-by-step information.
1/3 * (1/2 - 3 3/8) = -23/24 ≅ -0.9583333
The result spelled out in words is minus twenty-three twenty-fourths.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Conversion a mixed number 3 3/8 to a improper fraction: 3 3/8 = 3 3/8 = 3 · 8 + 3/8 = 24 + 3/8 = 27/8
To find a new numerator:
a) Multiply the whole number 3 by the denominator 8. Whole number 3 equally 3 * 8/8 = 24/8
b) Add the answer from the previous step 24 to the numerator 3. New numerator is 24 + 3 = 27
c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 27) over the denominator 8.
Three and three eighths is twenty-seven eighths. - Subtract: 1/2 - 27/8 = 1 · 4/2 · 4 - 27/8 = 4/8 - 27/8 = 4 - 27/8 = -23/8
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(2, 8) = 8. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 2 × 8 = 16. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words, one half minus twenty-seven eighths equals minus twenty-three eighths. - Multiple: 1/3 * the result of step No. 2 = 1/3 * (-23/8) = 1 · (-23)/3 · 8 = -23/24
Multiply both numerators and denominators. Result fraction keep to lowest possible denominator GCD(-23, 24) = 1. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words, one third multiplied by minus twenty-three eighths equals minus twenty-three twenty-fourths.
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) |
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:
- Mr. Stratton
Mr. Stratton has a flower garden. Of the flowers in his garden, 1/3 of them are roses, and 3/5 of the roses are red. What fraction of Mr. Stratton's flowers are red roses? - Write 3
Write a real-world problem involving the multiplication of a fraction and a whole number with a product between 8 and 10, then solve the problem. - Matthew
Matthew is saving up for a car. Last year he saved 3/5 of the total amount. In addition to what he saved last year, he saved 3/10 of the total amount in the summer. If the car costs 15 000$, how much has he saved so far? - A shopkeeper
A shopkeeper cuts a wheel of cheese into ten equal wedges. A customer buys one-fifth of the wheel. How many wedges does the customer buy? Use the number line to help find the solution. - Unknown var N
Five-eights of a number, N, is 50. What is the value of N? - Pampalini 81604
Pampalini, an animal hunter, told a stranger how he caught a huge crocodile. He claimed that his head was as long as half his tail, and his body was as long as three and a half heads. How long was the crocodile if you know its tail was 4 meters? - Product and sum
What is the product of two-fourths and the sum of three halves and four?
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Last Modified: August 28, 2025
