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 - 1/3 = 4/15 ≅ 0.2666667
Spelled result in words is four fifteenths.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Subtract: 3/5 - 1/3 = 3 · 3/5 · 3 - 1 · 5/3 · 5 = 9/15 - 5/15 = 9 - 5/15 = 4/15
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, 3) = 15. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 5 × 3 = 15. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - three fifths minus one third is four fifteenths.
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:
- Simplify 12
Simplify {1/3 + 1/12} ÷ {2/3 - 5/8}
- The following 3
The following fraction is reduced to its lowest terms except one. Which of these: A.98/99 B.73/179 C.1/250 D.81/729
- Samantha
Samantha took 72 pictures on her beach vacation. 3/4 of those pictures are on the beach. How many pictures from her vacation are on the beach?
- 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?
- Dea makes
Dea makes 18 out of 27 shots in a basketball game. Which decimal represents the fraction of shots Dea makes?
- In the cafeteria
There are 18 students in Jacob's homeroom. Six students bring their lunch to school. The rest eat lunch in the cafeteria. In the simplest form, what fraction of students eat lunch in the cafeteria?
- Babies
Two adults, two children, and four babies are on a bus. What fraction of the people are babies?
- Children 9
There are 11 children in a room. Six of the children are girls. What fraction of the children are girls?
- 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.
- Evaluate expression
Calculate the value of the expression z/3 - 2 z/9 + 1/6, for z = 2
- 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?
more math problems »