Fraction calculator
This fractions calculator performs all fraction operations - addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and evaluates expressions with fractions. It also shows detailed step-by-step information.
The result:
1 1/2 + 2 2/3 = 25/6 = 4 1/6 ≅ 4.1666667
The spelled result in words is twenty-five sixths (or four and one sixth).How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Conversion a mixed number 1 1/2 to a improper fraction: 1 1/2 = 1 1/2 = 1 · 2 + 1/2 = 2 + 1/2 = 3/2
To find a new numerator:
a) Multiply the whole number 1 by the denominator 2. Whole number 1 equally 1 * 2/2 = 2/2
b) Add the answer from the previous step 2 to the numerator 1. New numerator is 2 + 1 = 3
c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 3) over the denominator 2.
One and one half is three halfs. - Conversion a mixed number 2 2/3 to a improper fraction: 2 2/3 = 2 2/3 = 2 · 3 + 2/3 = 6 + 2/3 = 8/3
To find a new numerator:
a) Multiply the whole number 2 by the denominator 3. Whole number 2 equally 2 * 3/3 = 6/3
b) Add the answer from the previous step 6 to the numerator 2. New numerator is 6 + 2 = 8
c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 8) over the denominator 3.
Two and two thirds is eight thirds. - Add: 3/2 + 8/3 = 3 · 3/2 · 3 + 8 · 2/3 · 2 = 9/6 + 16/6 = 9 + 16/6 = 25/6
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(2, 3) = 6. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 2 × 3 = 6. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - three halfs plus eight thirds is twenty-five sixths.
Rules for expressions with fractions:
Fractions - write a forward slash to separate the numerator and 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 whole part and fraction and use a forward slash to input fraction i.e., 1 2/3 . A negative mixed fraction write for example as -5 1/2.
A slash is both a sign for fraction line and division, use a colon (:) for division fractions i.e., 1/2 : 1/3.
Decimals (decimal numbers) enter with a decimal dot . 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:
- Compare two fractions
Find which is the larger of the two fractions: 11/32, 7/24, by expressing the numbers as a) fractions with the same denominator, b) decimals.
- 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.
- Pizza 16
Kevin ate 5/12 of his pizza. Which is a better estimate for the amount of pizza that he ate: A. about half of the pizza or B. almost all of the pizza?
- Compare operators
Place the correct symbol, < or >, between the two numbers: 4/7? 5/6
- Playing games
In a school, 9/10 of the students take part. 2/3 of these play football. What fraction of the students play football?
- The sum
If you add 3/4 and 5/8, what would be the sum? A. more than one B. equal to one C. less than one D. zero
- Andy and Mike
Mike and Andy are each reading the same book. Mike read 2/4 of the book on Tuesday and 1/3 of the book on Wednesday. Andy read 1/2 of the book on Tuesday and 1/5 of the book on Wednesday. Andy says that altogether he read more of the book on Tuesday and W
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Last Modified: February 14, 2025