Fraction calculator



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

The result:

2 1/2 - 1 1/4 = 5/4 = 1 1/4 = 1.25

Spelled result in words is five quarters (or one and one quarter).

How do we solve fractions step by step?

  1. Conversion a mixed number 2 1/2 to a improper fraction: 2 1/2 = 2 1/2 = 2 · 2 + 1/2 = 4 + 1/2 = 5/2

    To find a new numerator:
    a) Multiply the whole number 2 by the denominator 2. Whole number 2 equally 2 * 2/2 = 4/2
    b) Add the answer from the previous step 4 to the numerator 1. New numerator is 4 + 1 = 5
    c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 5) over the denominator 2.

    Two and one half is five halfs.
  2. Conversion a mixed number 1 1/4 to a improper fraction: 1 1/4 = 1 1/4 = 1 · 4 + 1/4 = 4 + 1/4 = 5/4

    To find a new numerator:
    a) Multiply the whole number 1 by the denominator 4. Whole number 1 equally 1 * 4/4 = 4/4
    b) Add the answer from the previous step 4 to the numerator 1. New numerator is 4 + 1 = 5
    c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 5) over the denominator 4.

    One and one quarter is five quarters.
  3. Subtract: 5/2 - 5/4 = 5 · 2/2 · 2 - 5/4 = 10/4 - 5/4 = 10 - 5/4 = 5/4
    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(2, 4) = 4. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 2 × 4 = 8. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
    In other words - five halfs minus five quarters is five quarters.

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.

Fractions in word problems:



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