Fraction calculator
This calculator adds two fractions. First, all fractions are converted to a common denominator when they have different denominators. To do this, find the Least Common Denominator (LCD) or multiply all denominators to determine a common denominator. Once all denominators are the same, add the numerators and place the result over the common denominator. Finally, simplify the result to its lowest terms or convert it to a mixed number.
The result:
1/3 + 3/5 = 14/15 ≅ 0.9333333
The result spelled out in words is fourteen fifteenths.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Add: 1/3 + 3/5 = 1 · 5/3 · 5 + 3 · 3/5 · 3 = 5/15 + 9/15 = 5 + 9/15 = 14/15
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(3, 5) = 15. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 3 × 5 = 15. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words, one third plus three fifths equals fourteen fifteenths.
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) |
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 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:
- Hardware store
At the hardware store, 1/4 of the nails are size 2d, and 3/8 of the nails are size 4d. What fraction of the nails are either size 2d or 4d? - Negative mixed 2
What is −4 2/3 + 2 1/2? Write the answer as a mixed number in simplest form. - One-third of the sum
Some number equals 1/3 of the sum of 83.2, -25.1, and 65. What is the number? - Peter 12
Peter spends 1 1/2 hours playing, 2 1/2 hours reading, and 2/3 hours cooking. Find the sum of hours. - Cement and sand
Rasmus mixes cement with sand for some repair work. He used 3 5/6 kg of cement and 1/2 kg more sand than cement. In all, he needs 10 kg of the mixture. Does he have enough mixture? If yes, then how much more does it have? If not, then how much more does h - Recipe ingredients
Monica's cookie recipe calls for Three-fourths of a cup of flour. Her mother's recipe calls for Two-thirds as much as Monica's. How many cups of flour does her mother's recipe require? - James 2
James collected 24 seashells on the seashore to be shared with his two friends. What fractional part of the seashells will each get if distributed evenly?
more math problems »
Last Modified: August 28, 2025
