Fraction calculator
This calculator subtracts two fractions. When fractions have the same denominators calculator simply subtracts the numerators and place the result over the common denominator. Then simplify the result to the lowest terms or a mixed number.
The result:
5/6 - 2/6 = 1/2 = 0.5
The spelled result in words is one half.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Subtract: 5/6 - 2/6 = 5 - 2/6 = 3/6 = 3 · 1/3 · 2 = 1/2
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(6, 6) = 6. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 6 × 6 = 36. In the following intermediate step, cancel by a common factor of 3 gives 1/2.
In other words - five sixths minus two sixths is one half.
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
• square root of a fraction: sqrt(1/16)
• 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 be evaluated from left to right.
Fractions in word problems:
- Puzzle game
In a letter puzzle game, John can use every alphabet only once. He used only 8 alphabets to solve the puzzle. What fraction of the 26 alphabets did he use? Express your answer as a fraction in the simplest form. - Reduce fractions
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 - Simplify 12
Simplify {1/3 + 1/12} ÷ {2/3 - 5/8} - Unsatisfactory 5604
In 1995, 360 fish samples were tested for contamination with foreign substances, and 138 samples were unsatisfactory. Write a fraction of what part of the fish did not meet the limits.
- A cake 2
Karen sliced a cake into 10 slices. She ate 2/10 of it and after some time she ate another 4/10 of it. How much of the cake did Karen eat? - Mass fraction 2
What fraction is 60kg of 150kg? - Divide mixed numbers
Divide the following fractions and reduce your answers to its simplest form if possible: 1. 2 3/4 ÷ 3 1/12 2. 3 2/3 ÷ 4 1/2 3. 5 3/7 ÷ 2 3/9 4. 6 2/3 ÷ 1 1/5
more math problems »
Last Modified: October 9, 2024