Fraction calculator



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

Result:

3 2/5 - 3/4 + 5 1/2 = 163/20 = 8 3/20 = 8.15

Spelled result in words is one hundred sixty-three twentieths (or eight and three twentieths).

How do you solve fractions step by step?

  1. Conversion a mixed number 3 2/5 to a improper fraction: 3 2/5 = 3 2/5 = 3 · 5 + 2/5 = 15 + 2/5 = 17/5

    To find a new numerator:
    a) Multiply the whole number 3 by the denominator 5. Whole number 3 equally 3 * 5/5 = 15/5
    b) Add the answer from previous step 15 to the numerator 2. New numerator is 15 + 2 = 17
    c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 17) over the denominator 5.

    Three and two fifths is seventeen fifths
  2. Subtract: 17/5 - 3/4 = 17 · 4/5 · 4 - 3 · 5/4 · 5 = 68/20 - 15/20 = 68 - 15/20 = 53/20
    For adding, subtracting, and comparing fractions, it is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common (equal, identical) denominator. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of both denominators - LCM(5, 4) = 20. In practice, it is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 5 × 4 = 20. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
    In other words - seventeen fifths minus three quarters = fifty-three twentieths.
  3. Conversion a mixed number 5 1/2 to a improper fraction: 5 1/2 = 5 1/2 = 5 · 2 + 1/2 = 10 + 1/2 = 11/2

    To find a new numerator:
    a) Multiply the whole number 5 by the denominator 2. Whole number 5 equally 5 * 2/2 = 10/2
    b) Add the answer from previous step 10 to the numerator 1. New numerator is 10 + 1 = 11
    c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 11) over the denominator 2.

    Five and one half is eleven halfs
  4. Add: the result of step No. 2 + 11/2 = 53/20 + 11/2 = 53/20 + 11 · 10/2 · 10 = 53/20 + 110/20 = 53 + 110/20 = 163/20
    For adding, subtracting, and comparing fractions, it is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common (equal, identical) denominator. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of both denominators - LCM(20, 2) = 20. In practice, it is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 20 × 2 = 40. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
    In other words - fifty-three twentieths plus eleven halfs = one hundred sixty-three twentieths.

Rules for expressions with fractions:

Fractions - simply use a forward slash between the numerator and denominator, i.e., for five-hundredths, enter 5/100. If you are using mixed numbers, be sure to leave a single space between the whole and fraction part.
The slash separates the numerator (number above a fraction line) and denominator (number below).

Mixed numerals (mixed fractions or mixed numbers) write as integer separated by one space and fraction i.e., 1 2/3 (having the same sign). An example of a negative mixed fraction: -5 1/2.
Because slash is both signs for fraction line and division, we recommended use colon (:) as the operator of division fractions i.e., 1/2 : 3.

Decimals (decimal numbers) enter with a decimal point . and they are automatically converted to fractions - i.e. 1.45.

The colon : and slash / is the symbol of division. Can be used to divide mixed numbers 1 2/3 : 4 3/8 or can be used for write complex fractions i.e. 1/2 : 1/3.
An asterisk * or × is the symbol for multiplication.
Plus + is addition, minus sign - is subtraction and ()[] is mathematical parentheses.
The exponentiation/power symbol is ^ - for example: (7/8-4/5)^2 = (7/8-4/5)2


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
• exponentiation of fraction: 3/5^3
• 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 /) has the same priority and then must evaluate from left to right.

Fractions in word problems:



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