Fraction calculator
This calculator subtracts two fractions. When fractions have the same denominators calculator simply subtracts the numerators and place the result over the common denominator. Then simplify the result to the lowest terms or a mixed number.
The result:
2/4 - 3/4 = -1/4 = -0.25
Spelled result in words is minus one quarter.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Subtract: 2/4 - 3/4 = 2 - 3/4 = -1/4
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, 4) = 4. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 4 × 4 = 16. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - two quarters minus three quarters is minus one quarter.
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) - dividing the numerator and denominator of a fraction by the same non-zero number - equivalent fraction: 4/22
• 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 evaluate from left to right.
Fractions in word problems:
- Peter's calculation
Peter wrote the following: 7 1/4 - 3 3/4 = 4 2/4 = 4 1/2 . Is Peter's calculation correct? Using words (math vocabulary) and numbers to explain why he is correct or incorrect.
- A man 9
A man earns $2400 in his monthly salary. He spends 3/5 of his salary on food and rent. This month he decided to buy his family presents. What fraction of his money does he spend on presents?
- Paul ate
Paul ate 2/8 of a cake and his brother 3/8. What fraction of the cake is left for the parents?
- Sadie
Sadie practiced her spelling words for 3/4 of an hour, and Max practiced his spelling words for 5/12 of an hour. In the simplest form, how much longer did Sadie practice than Max?
- The bread 2
Sandra and Tylar baked two loaves of bread. On Monday, they ate 1/2 of one loaf. On Tuesday, they ate 1/3 of one loaf of bread. How much bread is left?
- A cake
A cake has 46 slices. Harry ate 16 slices, and Jack ate 26 slices, Dave ate 0 & Mary ate 1 slice. What fraction of the cake is remaining?
- Difference between fractions
What is the difference when you take away 1/6 from 2/8?
- Before 4
Before a journey, the petrol gauge showed my car's tank was half full. When I returned home, it was one-third full. What fraction of a tank of petrol had I used?
- The entity
What is the difference between seven-tenths of an entity and seven-fifteenths of the same entity? Please solve it for me.
- Unload truck
Andy has just moved and is beginning to unload his boxes. The truck is currently 11/12 of the way full. He unloads 1/4 more of it. How much more does he have to unload?
- Shopper
Eva spent 1/4 in one store and 1/3 in another. What fraction is left?
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