Calculator subtracting fractions



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

2/3 - 1/2 = 1/6 ≅ 0.1666667

Spelled result in words is one sixth.

How do you solve fractions step by step?

  1. Subtract: 2/3 - 1/2 = 2 · 2/3 · 2 - 1 · 3/2 · 3 = 4/6 - 3/6 = 4 - 3/6 = 1/6
    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 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 canceling.
    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 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 the 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.

The 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

The calculator follows well-known rules for 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.
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:

  • Sugar 8
    sugar Heather has 2 cups of powdered sugar. She sprinkles 3/5 of the sugar onto a plate of brownies and sprinkles the rest into a plate of lemon cookies. How much sugar does Heather sprinkle on the brownies? How much sugar does Heather sprinkle on the lemon coo
  • Issac
    pizza Issac eats 1/6 of the pizza. Maya then eats 3/5 of the remaining pizza. What fraction of the original pizza is left?
  • Evaluate fractions
    mixed_fractions The difference  of 5 1/2 and 2/3 is added to the product of 5/6 and 1/2
  • Pupils 7
    skola There are 40 pupils in a certain class. 3/5 of the class are boys. How many are girls?
  • Shirts
    blue shirts In a classroom,1/6 of the students are wearing blue shirts, and 2/3 are wearing white shirts. There are 18 students in the classroom. How many students are wearing shirts other than blue shirts or white shirts?
  • Bitoo and Reena
    apples Bitoo ate 3/5 part of an apple and the remaining part was eaten by his sister Reena. How much part of an apple did Renna eat? Who had the larger share? By how much?
  • School
    skola There are 150 pupils in grade 5 . 2/3 of them are female. By what fractions are the males?
  • Mixed numbers
    zlomky Rewrite mixed numbers, so the fractions have the same denominator: 5 1/5 - 2 2/3
  • 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?
  • Find the 24
    plusminus Find the difference between 2/7 and 1/21
  • Carrie
    maliny Carrie picked 2/5 of the raspberries from the garden, and Robin picked some too.  When they were finished, 1/3 of the raspberries still needed to be picked.  What fraction of the raspberries did Robin pick? Use pictures, numbers or words and write your fi
  • Emily
    clock-night-schr Emily had 20 minutes to do a three-problem quiz. She spent 11 3/4 minutes on question A and 5 1/2 minutes on question B. How much time did she have left for question C?
  • There 14
    skola There are 250 people in a museum. 2/5 of the 250 people are girls 3/10 of the 250 people are boys The rest of the 250 people are adults Work out the number of adults in the museum.


next math problems »