Fraction calculator
This calculator adds two fractions. When fractions have the same denominators calculator simply adds the numerators and place the result over the common denominator. Then simplify the result to the lowest terms or a mixed number.
The result:
1/5 + 3/5 = 4/5 = 0.8
The result spelled out in words is four fifths.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Add: 1/5 + 3/5 = 1 + 3/5 = 4/5
Both fractions have the same denominator, which is then the common denominator in the adding them. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words, one fifth plus three fifths equals four fifths.
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:
- Breakfast 83989
Peter ate a quarter of the pizza for breakfast and a sixth of the rest for lunch. How much of the pizza did he have left for dinner?
- My whole
My whole number is 88 if you add 5 thousandths, 8 tenths, and 7 thousandths. What number will I be?
- Three-eighths 81827
There were buns for lunch at school. The freshmen ate one-eighth of the buns. The sophomores ate two-eighths of the buns. Third and fourth graders ate three-eighths. How many eighths buns are left for the second stage?
- Simplify 9
Simplify and express the result as a rational number in its simplest form: 1/2+ 1/5+ 6.25+0.25
- A market
A market vendor could sell all the mangoes, papayas, and star apples. 1/5 of the fruits were mangoes, 2/3 of them were papayas, and the rest were star apples. How many parts of the fruits sold are star apples?
- Unknown fraction
2/6 + fraction = 1
- Work
2/5 of the employees in a company drive to work, 1/3 travel by bus, and the rest walk. Find the fraction of those who walk.
more math problems »
Last Modified: August 28, 2025