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 5/6 - 2 1/2 = 7/3 = 2 1/3 ≅ 2.3333333
The spelled result in words is seven thirds (or two and one third).How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Conversion a mixed number 4 5/6 to a improper fraction: 4 5/6 = 4 5/6 = 4 · 6 + 5/6 = 24 + 5/6 = 29/6
To find a new numerator:
a) Multiply the whole number 4 by the denominator 6. Whole number 4 equally 4 * 6/6 = 24/6
b) Add the answer from the previous step 24 to the numerator 5. New numerator is 24 + 5 = 29
c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 29) over the denominator 6.
Four and five sixths is twenty-nine sixths. - Conversion a mixed number 2 1/2 to a improper fraction: 2 1/2 = 2 1/2 = 2 · 2 + 1/2 = 4 + 1/2 = 5/2
To find a new numerator:
a) Multiply the whole number 2 by the denominator 2. Whole number 2 equally 2 * 2/2 = 4/2
b) Add the answer from the previous step 4 to the numerator 1. New numerator is 4 + 1 = 5
c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 5) over the denominator 2.
Two and one half is five halfs. - Subtract: 29/6 - 5/2 = 29/6 - 5 · 3/2 · 3 = 29/6 - 15/6 = 29 - 15/6 = 14/6 = 2 · 7/2 · 3 = 7/3
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(6, 2) = 6. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 6 × 2 = 12. In the following intermediate step, cancel by a common factor of 2 gives 7/3.
In other words - twenty-nine sixths minus five halfs is seven thirds.
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:
- Anesa
Anesa ate 3/4 of her pizza, and Eman ate 1/4 of her pizza. Who ate the greater part of the pizza?
- 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?
- One quarter
Which of the following has a sum of 3/4? A. 1/2+1/4 B. 1/2+1/3 C. 1/4+1/8 D. 1/9+1/12
- Carlo 2
Carlo had 5/6 of pizza, and Dannah had 1 5/8 of a similar pizza. How much more pizza did Dannah have than Carlo?
- Once simplified
Once simplified, which of the expressions below has a value between 20 and 30? Select all that apply. A) 32÷8×514 B) -18÷6×9 C) 4×12÷2 D) 12×413÷(-2)
- Conner
Conner picked 8 1/5 pounds of apples. Louisa picked 9 2/3 pounds of apples. How many apples, more pounds, did Louisa pick than Conner?
- Steve 3
Steve is making breakfast. The recipes call for 7/8 cup of milk for grits and 3/4 cup for biscuits. He only has 2 cups of milk. Does he have enough to make his breakfast?
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Last Modified: February 14, 2025