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:

4 1/5 * 5/14 = 3/2 = 1 1/2 = 1.5

The spelled result in words is three halfs (or one and one half).

How do we solve fractions step by step?

  1. Conversion a mixed number 4 1/5 to a improper fraction: 4 1/5 = 4 1/5 = 4 · 5 + 1/5 = 20 + 1/5 = 21/5

    To find a new numerator:
    a) Multiply the whole number 4 by the denominator 5. Whole number 4 equally 4 * 5/5 = 20/5
    b) Add the answer from the previous step 20 to the numerator 1. New numerator is 20 + 1 = 21
    c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 21) over the denominator 5.

    Four and one fifth is twenty-one fifths.
  2. Multiple: 21/5 * 5/14 = 21 · 5/5 · 14 = 105/70 = 3 · 35/2 · 35 = 3/2
    Multiply both numerators and denominators. Result fraction keep to lowest possible denominator GCD(105, 70) = 35. In the following intermediate step, cancel by a common factor of 35 gives 3/2.
    In other words - twenty-one fifths multiplied by five fourteenths is three halfs.

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


SymbolSymbol nameSymbol MeaningExample
+plus signaddition 1/2 + 1/3
-minus signsubtraction 1 1/2 - 2/3
*asteriskmultiplication 2/3 * 3/4
×times signmultiplication 2/3 × 5/6
:division signdivision 1/2 : 3
/division slashdivision 1/3 / 5
:coloncomplex fraction 1/2 : 1/3
^caretexponentiation / power 1/4^3
()parenthesescalculate 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.


Last Modified: February 14, 2025