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:

1.5 - 1 1/5 = 3/10 = 0.3

The spelled result in words is three tenths.

How do we solve fractions step by step?

Conversion a decimal number to a fraction: 1.5 = 15/10 = 3/2

a) Write down the decimal 1.5 divided by 1: 1.5 = 1.5/1
b) Multiply both top and bottom by 10 for every number after the decimal point. (For example, if there are two numbers after the decimal point, then use 100, if there are three then use 1000, etc.)
1.5/1 = 15/10
Note: 15/10 is called a decimal fraction.

c) Simplify and reduce the fraction
15/10 = 3 * 5/2 * 5 = 3 * 5/2 * 5 = 3/2
Conversion a mixed number 1 1/5 to a improper fraction: 1 1/5 = 1 1/5 = 1 · 5 + 1/5 = 5 + 1/5 = 6/5

To find a new numerator:
a) Multiply the whole number 1 by the denominator 5. Whole number 1 equally 1 * 5/5 = 5/5
b) Add the answer from the previous step 5 to the numerator 1. New numerator is 5 + 1 = 6
c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 6) over the denominator 5.

One and one fifth is six fifths.
Subtract: 1.5 - 6/5 = 3/2 - 6/5 = 3 · 5/2 · 5 - 6 · 2/5 · 2 = 15/10 - 12/10 = 15 - 12/10 = 3/10
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, 5) = 10. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 2 × 5 = 10. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - three halfs minus six fifths is three tenths.

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)

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.