Calculator subtracting fractions



The calculator performs basic and advanced operations with fractions, expressions with fractions combined with integers, decimals, and mixed numbers. Also shows detailed step-by-step information about fraction calculation procedure. Solve problems with two, three or more fractions and numbers in one expression.

2/3 - 1/2 = 16 ≅ 0.1666667

Spelled result in words is one sixth.

How do you solve fractions step by step?

  1. Subtract: 23 - 12 = 2 · 23 · 2 - 1 · 32 · 3 = 46 - 36 = 4 - 36 = 16
    For adding, subtracting, and comparing fractions, it is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common (equal, identical) denominator. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of the both denominators - LCM(3, 2) = 6. In practice, it is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 3 × 2 = 6. In the next intermediate step the fraction result cannot be further simplified by cancelling.
    In words - two thirds minus one half = one sixth.

Rules for expressions with fractions:

Fractions - use the slash “/” between the numerator and denominator, i.e. for five-hundredths enter 5/100. If you are using mixed numbers be sure to leave a single space between the whole number and fraction part.
The slash separates the numerator (number above a fraction line) and denominator (number below).

Mixed numerals (mixed fractions or mixed numbers) write as non-zero integer separated by one space and fraction i.e., 1 2/3 (having the same sign). An example of a negative mixed fraction: -5 1/2.
Because slash is both signs for fraction line and division, we recommended use colon (:) as operator of division fractions i.e., 1/2 : 3.

Decimals (decimal numbers) enter with a decimal point . and they are automatically converted to fractions - i.e. 1.45.

Colon : and slash / is the symbol of division. Can be used to divide mixed numbers 1 2/3 : 4 3/8 or can be used for write complex fractions i.e. 1/2 : 1/3.
An asterisk * or × is the symbol for multiplication.
Plus + is addition, minus sign - is subtraction and ()[] is mathematical parentheses.
The exponentiation/power symbol is ^ - for example: (7/8-4/5)^2 = (7/8-4/5)2

Calculator follows well-known rules for order of operations. 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.
Be careful, always do multiplication and division before addition and subtraction. Some operators (+ and -) and (* and /) has the same priority and then must evaluate from left to right.


Fractions in word problems:

  • Regrouping
    mixed_7 Subtract mixed number with regrouping: 11 17/20- 6 19/20
  • Plums
    plumbs In the bag was to total 136 plums. Igor took 3 plums and Mary took 4/7 from the rest. How many plums remained in the bag?
  • Pediatrician
    doctor Pediatrician this month of 20 working days takes 8 days holidays. What is the probability that on Monday will be at work?
  • Interior designer
    draperies To make draperies an interior designer needs 11 1/4 yards of material for the den and 8 1/2 yards for the living room. If material comes only in 20 yard bolts, how much will be left over after completing both sets of draperies?
  • King
    kral King had four sons. First inherit 1/2, second 1/4 , third 1/5 of property. What part of the property was left to the last of the brothers?
  • A farmer's heritage
    kone_dzokej A farmer died leaving his 17 horses to his 3 sons. When his sons opened up the Will it read: My eldest son should get 1/2 (half) of total horses; My middle son should be given 1/3rd (one-third) of the total horses; My youngest son should be given 1/9th (o
  • The Mayflower
    storm-012_2 The Mayflower traveled for 66 days on the trip from England to America. The weather was storming for many days of their trip. If one and a half of the days at Sea where Sunny with good weather, 1/6 of the days were sunny but very windy and the other days
  • Garden
    garden_7 The garden has a rectangular shape with lengths of 25 and 40 meters. It has been expanded so that each of its size increased by one fifth. How many square meters increased its acreage?
  • Math test
    test_13 Obelix filled a mathematical test in which he answered 25 questions. For every correct answer, he received 5 points, for each bad answer he had 3 points deducted. Obelix gained 36% of all points in the test. How many questions did he solve correctly?
  • Half of halves
    sequence_geo Half of the square we cut off, then half of the rest, etc. Five cuts we made in this way. What part of the content of the original square is the content of the cut part?
  • Gingerbread house
    pernikova_ch Janka and Marienka calculated that there are 210 gingerbreads on the gingerbread house. Janko ate one-seventh of all gingerbreads, and Marienka ate a third less than Janko. How many gingerbreads remained in the gingerbread house?
  • Turtles 2
    turtles A box turtle hibernates in the sand at 11 5/8. A spotted turtle hibernates at 11 16/25 feet. Which turtle is deeper?
  • Two ribbons
    meter_1 The total length of two ribbons is 13 meters. If one ribbon is 7 and 5/8 meters long, what is the length of the other ribbon.


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