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:
5/8 - 1/2 = 1/8 = 0.125
Spelled result in words is one eighth.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Subtract: 5/8 - 1/2 = 5/8 - 1 · 4/2 · 4 = 5/8 - 4/8 = 5 - 4/8 = 1/8
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(8, 2) = 8. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 8 × 2 = 16. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - five eighths minus one half is one eighth.
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 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) : 4/22 - dividing the numerator and denominator of a fraction by the same non-zero number - equivalent fraction
• 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:
- Fraction and a decimal
Write as a fraction and a decimal. One and two plus three and five hundredths - Fractions 80134
There are 420 pupils in the school. Two hundred fifty-two pupils go to the 1st level. Write as a fraction what part of the pupils goes to the 1st grade and what part to the 2nd grade. Shorten both fractions to their basic form. - 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.
- Lowest terms 2
We can write the expression 4/12 in its lowest term as 1/3. What is 3/15 expressed in its lowest term? - Dea makes
Dea makes 18 out of 27 shots in a basketball game. Which decimal represents the fraction of shots Dea makes? - Mathew
Mathew has eight pencils. Three of them do not have erasers on end. What fraction of the pencils do not have erasers on end? - A class IV.A
In a class, there are 15 girls and 30 boys. What fraction of the class represents the boys? - 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?
- 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 - Fraction to decimal
Write the fraction 3/22 as a decimal. - Equations
Solve following equations without fractions: a) 5 (x-1) -7 = 17-3 (1-x) b) 3 (y-2) -4y = 2- (1 + 2y) - A farm 6
A farm has 20 animals. There are four chickens. What fraction of the animals are chickens? Express your answer as a fraction in the simplest form. - Children 9
There are 11 children in a room. Six of the children are girls. What fraction of the children are girls?
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