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:
1/4 - 2/3 = -5/12 ≅ -0.4166667
Spelled result in words is minus five twelfths.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Subtract: 1/4 - 2/3 = 1 · 3/4 · 3 - 2 · 4/3 · 4 = 3/12 - 8/12 = 3 - 8/12 = -5/12
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(4, 3) = 12. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 4 × 3 = 12. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - one quarter minus two thirds is minus five twelfths.
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
• multiplying a fraction by a whole number: 6 * 3/4
• square root of a fraction: sqrt(1/16)
• reducing or simplifying the fraction (simplification) : 4/22 - dividing the numerator and denominator of a fraction by the same non-zero number - equivalent fraction
• 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:
- In the cafeteria
There are 18 students in Jacob's homeroom. Six students bring their lunch to school. The rest eat lunch in the cafeteria. In the simplest form, what fraction of students eat lunch in the cafeteria?
- Brown or black
Max has 13 pairs of socks. From this, six pairs are blue, three pairs are brown, two are black, and two are white. What fraction of Max's socks are either brown or black?
- Dea makes
Dea makes 18 out of 27 shots in a basketball game. Which decimal represents the fraction of shots Dea makes?
- Value of Z
For x = -9, what is the value of Z, where Z equals fraction numerator x minus 17 over denominator 6.5 end fraction. Give your answer to 2 decimal places.
- Fruit basket
If there are seven apples and five oranges in the basket, what fraction of oranges are in the fruit basket?
- The following 3
The following fraction is reduced to its lowest terms except one. Which of these: A.98/99 B.73/179 C.1/250 D.81/729
- Puzzle game
In a letter puzzle game, John can use every alphabet only once. He used only 8 alphabets to solve the puzzle. What fraction of the 26 alphabets did he use? Express your answer as a fraction in the simplest form.
- Fraction and a decimal
Write as a fraction and a decimal. One and two plus three and five hundredths
- Fractions 80134
There are 420 pupils in the school. Two hundred fifty-two pupils go to the 1st level. Write as a fraction what part of the pupils goes to the 1st grade and what part to the 2nd grade. Shorten both fractions to their basic form.
- Oranges
There are 50 oranges in a bag. If ten of these oranges are bad, what fraction of them are good?
- Fraction to decimal
Write the fraction 3/22 as a decimal.
- A company
A company has 860 employees, of which 500 are female. Write a fraction to represent the female employees in the company.
- Someone
Someone ate 1/10 of a cake, leaving only 9/10. If you eat 2/3 of the cake left, how much of a whole cake will you have eaten?
- Simplify 12
Simplify {1/3 + 1/12} ÷ {2/3 - 5/8}
- In fractions
An ant climbs 2/5 of the pole in the first hour and climbs 1/4 of the pole in the next hour. What part of the pole does the ant climb in two hours?
more math problems »