Fraction calculator
This calculator subtracts two fractions. First, convert all fractions to a common denominator when fractions have different denominators. Find Least Common Denominator (LCD) or multiply all denominators to find a common denominator. When all denominators are the same, simply subtract the numerators and place the result over the common denominator. Then simplify the result to the lowest terms or a mixed number.
The result:
3/5 - 1/2 = 1/10 = 0.1
Spelled result in words is one tenth.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Subtract: 3/5 - 1/2 = 3 · 2/5 · 2 - 1 · 5/2 · 5 = 6/10 - 5/10 = 6 - 5/10 = 1/10
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(5, 2) = 10. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 5 × 2 = 10. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - three fifths minus one half is one tenth.
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) |
Fractions in word problems:
- Oranges
There are 50 oranges in a bag. If ten of these oranges are bad, what fraction of them are good?
- Using money
Out of 575,000.00 given to a school, an amount of 25,000.00 was used. What fraction of the total amount was used?
- Andy gets
Andy gets five out of 15 questions wrong in his math test. What fraction of the question does andy answer correctly?
- In fractions
An ant climbs 2/5 of the pole in the first hour and climbs 1/4 of the pole in the next hour. What part of the pole does the ant climb in two hours?
- Zdeněk
Zdeněk picked up 15 l of water from a 100-liter full-water barrel. Write a fraction of what part of Zdeněk's water he picked.
more math problems »