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:

8 6/10 - 4 7/12 = 241/60 = 4 1/60 ≅ 4.0166667

The spelled result in words is two hundred forty-one sixtieths (or four and one sixtieth).

How do we solve fractions step by step?

Conversion a mixed number 8 6/10 to a improper fraction: 8 6/10 = 8 6/10 = 8 · 10 + 6/10 = 80 + 6/10 = 86/10

To find a new numerator:
a) Multiply the whole number 8 by the denominator 10. Whole number 8 equally 8 * 10/10 = 80/10
b) Add the answer from the previous step 80 to the numerator 6. New numerator is 80 + 6 = 86
c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 86) over the denominator 10.

Eight and six tenths is eighty-six tenths.
Conversion a mixed number 4 7/12 to a improper fraction: 4 7/12 = 4 7/12 = 4 · 12 + 7/12 = 48 + 7/12 = 55/12

To find a new numerator:
a) Multiply the whole number 4 by the denominator 12. Whole number 4 equally 4 * 12/12 = 48/12
b) Add the answer from the previous step 48 to the numerator 7. New numerator is 48 + 7 = 55
c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 55) over the denominator 12.

Four and seven twelfths is fifty-five twelfths.
Subtract: 86/10 - 55/12 = 86 · 6/10 · 6 - 55 · 5/12 · 5 = 516/60 - 275/60 = 516 - 275/60 = 241/60
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(10, 12) = 60. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 10 × 12 = 120. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - eighty-six tenths minus fifty-five twelfths is two hundred forty-one sixtieths.

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.