Mixed number calculator

This calculator performs basic and advanced operations with mixed numbers, fractions, integers, and decimals. Mixed numbers are also called mixed fractions. A mixed number is a whole number and a proper fraction combined, i.e. one and three-quarters. The calculator evaluates the expression or solves the equation with step-by-step calculation progress information. Solve problems with two or more mixed numbers fractions in one expression.

The result:

1/4 - 2/3 = -5/12 ≅ -0.4166667

Spelled result in words is minus five twelfths.

Calculation steps

Subtract: 1/4 - 2/3 = 1 · 3/4 · 3 - 2 · 4/3 · 4 = 3/12 - 8/12 = 3 - 8/12 = -5/12
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(4, 3) = 12. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 4 × 3 = 12. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - one quarter minus two thirds is minus five twelfths.

What is a mixed number?

A mixed number is an integer and fraction

a \frac{b}{c}

whose value equals the sum of that integer and fraction. For example, we write two and four-fifths as

2 \frac{4}{5}

. Its value is

2 \frac{4}{5} = 2 + \frac{4}{5} = \frac{1 0}{5} + \frac{4}{5} = \frac{1 4}{5}

. The mixed number is the exception - the missing operand between a whole number and a fraction is not multiplication but an addition:

2 \frac{4}{5} \neq = 2 \cdot \frac{4}{5}

. A negative mixed number - the minus sign also applies to the fractional

- 2 \frac{4}{5} = - (2 \frac{4}{5}) = - (2 + \frac{4}{5}) = - \frac{1 4}{5}

. A mixed number is sometimes called a mixed fraction. Usually, a mixed number contains a natural number and a proper fraction, and its value is an improper fraction, that is, one where the numerator is greater than the denominator.

How do I imagine a mixed number?

We can imagine mixed numbers in the example of cakes. We have three cakes, and we have divided each into five parts. We thus obtained 3 * 5 = 15 pieces of cake. One piece when we ate, there were 14 pieces left, which is