Fraction calculator
Type a fraction problem and see every step: the least common denominator for adding and subtracting, the reciprocal for dividing and reducing with the GCF. Mixed numbers like 2 1/2 work too, and the order of operations is respected.
The answer and the steps will show up here.
How to use the fraction calculator
Type the whole problem on one line, with parentheses if you need them, and press "Calculate". Mixed numbers go in with a space, as in 2 1/2. If you type a single fraction such as 18/24, the calculator reduces it to lowest terms and tells you the GCF it divided by.
Adding and subtracting mixed numbers is a grade 4 skill in the Common Core standards (4.NF.B.3c), and the method shown here is the one they describe first: replace each mixed number with an equivalent fraction, then add.
Three examples worked out with this calculator
- Unlike denominators (LCD of 4 and 6 is 12):
- Mixed numbers:
- Dividing by multiplying by the reciprocal:
When the fractions are inside an equation, use the equation solver, which clears the denominators and checks the solutions. The matrix calculator also keeps every entry as an exact fraction, and you'll find the rest of the free study tools on one page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type fractions and mixed numbers?
Type a fraction as a/b: 3/4, 5/6. For a mixed number, leave a space between the whole number and the fraction: 2 1/2. Use ÷ or : to divide, * or × to multiply and ^ for powers. Whole numbers, decimals with a point (0.5), parentheses and brackets work too.
How do you add fractions with unlike denominators?
Find the least common denominator (the least common multiple of the denominators), rewrite each fraction over it by multiplying top and bottom by the same number, then add the numerators. Finally, reduce the answer by dividing the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor. The steps show exactly that.
How does it add or subtract mixed numbers?
It changes each mixed number to an improper fraction first (2 1/2 = 5/2), works with a common denominator and turns the answer back into a mixed number at the end. If you're asked to add the whole numbers and the fractions separately, the final answer is the same.
What order are the operations done in?
Parentheses first, then exponents, then multiplication and division from left to right, then addition and subtraction from left to right (the order often remembered as PEMDAS). The steps appear in that same order.
Why do I get three answers?
They're the same number written three ways: the fraction in lowest terms (an improper fraction if it's bigger than 1), the mixed number when there is one, and the decimal rounded to 6 places.
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