Fraction calculator
This fraction calculator performs all fraction operations - addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and evaluates expressions with fractions. It also shows detailed step-by-step information.
The result:
2/5 * 3 1/2 + 4/5 = 11/5 = 2 1/5 = 2.2
The result spelled out in words is eleven fifths (or two and one fifth).How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Conversion a mixed number 3 1/2 to a improper fraction: 3 1/2 = 3 1/2 = 3 · 2 + 1/2 = 6 + 1/2 = 7/2
To find a new numerator:
a) Multiply the whole number 3 by the denominator 2. Whole number 3 equally 3 * 2/2 = 6/2
b) Add the answer from the previous step 6 to the numerator 1. New numerator is 6 + 1 = 7
c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 7) over the denominator 2.
Three and a half is seven halves. - Multiple: 2/5 * 7/2 = 2 · 7/5 · 2 = 14/10 = 7 · 2/5 · 2 = 7/5
Multiply both numerators and denominators. Result fraction keep to lowest possible denominator GCD(14, 10) = 2. In the following intermediate step, cancel by a common factor of 2 gives 7/5.
In other words, two fifths multiplied by seven halves equals seven fifths. - Add: the result of step No. 2 + 4/5 = 7/5 + 4/5 = 7 + 4/5 = 11/5
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, seven fifths plus four fifths equals eleven 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:
- A community event
Ana is organizing a community event in San Jose. If each participant gets 3/4 of a sandwich and there are 12 participants, how many sandwiches does Ana need in total?
- Ice-creams
Becky and Sam make 6 ice-creams for their friends. On top of each ice cream, they sprinkle 1/3 of a packet of jelly. How many packets of jelly do they need?
- Vegetarian menu
At a restaurant, 2/3 of the dishes on the menu are vegetarian. Of the vegetarian dishes, 1/10 are pasta dishes. What fraction of the dishes on the menu are vegetarian pasta dishes?
- Shoes
Jim and Dora are collecting shoes for a yard sale. Dora collected 1/2 as many shoes as Jim did. Jim collected 3/7 of a bag of shoes. How many bags of shoes did Dora collect?
- 10 children
Ten children in the park, four-tenths are wearing a red shirt. How many children in the park are wearing a red shirt?
- A quarter 2
A quarter of the 72 sandwiches contain cheese. The rest contain ham. How many are ham sandwiches?
- Beth wants
Beth wants to give 1/4 pizza to each of her 6 friends. Which choice does not show the number of pizzas Beth needs?
more math problems »
Last Modified: June 23, 2025