Fraction calculator



This calculator adds two fractions. First, all fractions are converted to a common denominator when fractions have different denominators. Find the Least Common Denominator (LCD) or multiply all denominators to find a common denominator. When all denominators are the same, 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:

12/28 + 11/35 = 26/350.7428571

The spelled result in words is twenty-six thirty-fifths.

How do we solve fractions step by step?

  1. Add: 12/28 + 11/35 = 12 · 5/28 · 5 + 11 · 4/35 · 4 = 60/140 + 44/140 = 60 + 44/140 = 104/140 = 4 · 26/4 · 35 = 26/35
    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(28, 35) = 140. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 28 × 35 = 980. In the following intermediate step, cancel by a common factor of 4 gives 26/35.
    In other words - twelve twenty-eighths plus eleven thirty-fifths is twenty-six thirty-fifths.

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


SymbolSymbol nameSymbol MeaningExample
+plus signaddition 1/2 + 1/3
-minus signsubtraction 1 1/2 - 2/3
*asteriskmultiplication 2/3 * 3/4
×times signmultiplication 2/3 × 5/6
:division signdivision 1/2 : 3
/division slashdivision 1/3 / 5
:coloncomplex fraction 1/2 : 1/3
^caretexponentiation / power 1/4^3
()parenthesescalculate 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 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.


Last Modified: December 13, 2024