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:
7/12 - 1/3 = 1/4 = 0.25
Spelled result in words is one quarter.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Subtract: 7/12 - 1/3 = 7/12 - 1 · 4/3 · 4 = 7/12 - 4/12 = 7 - 4/12 = 3/12 = 3 · 1/3 · 4 = 1/4
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(12, 3) = 12. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 12 × 3 = 36. In the following intermediate step, cancel by a common factor of 3 gives 1/4.
In other words - seven twelfths minus one third is one quarter.
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:
- A man 9
A man earns $2400 in his monthly salary. He spends 3/5 of his salary on food and rent. This month he decided to buy his family presents. What fraction of his money does he spend on presents? - Closer to one
Here are two sums: A=1/2 + 1/3 and B=1/5 + 1/3. Which of the two sums is closer in value to 1? You must show your work and state clearly whether the answer is A or B. - Peter's calculation
Peter wrote the following: 7 1/4 - 3 3/4 = 4 2/4 = 4 1/2 . Is Peter's calculation correct? Using words (math vocabulary) and numbers to explain why he is correct or incorrect. - Students 4252
Out of 35 pupils in class 15, they went on a trip. What part of the students went on a journey, and what remained at school?
- Sundar
Sundar has 50 chocolates. He gave 2/5 of these chocolates to Ram and ate 1/5 of them. How many chocolates are left with Sundar? - Before 4
Before a journey, the petrol gauge showed my car's tank was half full. When I returned home, it was one-third full. What fraction of a tank of petrol had I used? - King
King had four sons. First inherit 1/2, second 1/4, third 1/5 of property. What part of the property was left to the last of the brothers? - On Monday 3
On Monday, James had a pizza for lunch. He only ate 2/3 and left the rest for supper. At supper, he only had 1/2 of the pizza that was left over from lunch. How much does he have left after supper - A cake
A cake has 46 slices. Harry ate 16 slices, and Jack ate 26 slices, Dave ate 0 & Mary ate 1 slice. What fraction of the cake is remaining?
- Cherries 2
If a farmer reaped 636 cherries and he sold one-third to a shopkeeper, how many did he retain? - Difference of two fractions
What is the difference between 1/2 and 1/6? (Write the answer as a fraction in the lowest terms. ) - You have 4
You have eaten ⅔ of a pizza. Your friend eats what is left. How much of the original pizza is left? - A less than B
What is 3/5 less than 11/12? (Answer should be in proper or improper only: Example 1/2, -1/2, 3/2, and -3/2) - Evaluate - lowest terms
Evaluate: 16/25 - 11/25 (Express answer as a fraction reduced to lowest terms. )
more math problems »