Fraction calculator
This calculator subtracts two fractions. When fractions have different denominators, firstly convert all fractions to common denominator. Find Least Common Denominator (LCD) or simple multiply all denominators to find common denominator. When all denominators are 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.
Result:
4/7 - 1/2 = 1/14 ≅ 0.07142857
Spelled result in words is one fourteenth.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Subtract: 4/7 - 1/2 = 4 · 2/7 · 2 - 1 · 7/2 · 7 = 8/14 - 7/14 = 8 - 7/14 = 1/14
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(7, 2) = 14. In practice, it is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 7 × 2 = 14. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - four sevenths minus one half is one fourteenth.
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 signs 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 /) has the same priority and then must evaluate from left to right.
Fractions in word problems:
- A class IV.A
In a class there are 15 girls and 30 boys. What fraction of the class represents the boys?
- One Saturday
One Saturday evening there are 40 girls 25 boys 18 women and 17 men at a cinema. What fraction are girls?
- Using money
Out of 550,000.00 given to a school and amount of 325,000.00 was used. What fraction of the total amount was used?
- Lowest terms 2
The expression 4/12 can be expressed in its lowest term as 1/3. What is 3/15 expressed in its lowest term?
- 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.
- The parsley
Milka's grandmother planted 12 rows of vegetables. 1/6 of the rows are carrots, the rest is parsley. How many rows are planted with parsley?
- Andy gets
Andy gets 5 out 15 question wrong in his math test. What fraction of the question does andy answer correctly.
- Babies
There are 2 adults 2 children and 4 babies on a bus. What fraction of the people are babies?
- Evaluate expression
Calculate the value of the expression z/3 - 2 z/9 + 1/6, for z = 2
- 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 simplest form, what fraction of students eat lunch in the cafeteria?
- Children 9
There are 11 children in a room. 6 of the children are girls. What fraction of the children are girls?
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