How do I enter a mixed number?

Type the whole part in the Whole box and the fraction part in the Numerator and Denominator boxes. For 3 1/2, enter 3, 1 and 2.

Why is my answer shown as an improper fraction and a mixed number?

Both forms describe the same value. An improper fraction such as 7/4 is easier to use in further calculations, while the mixed number 1 3/4 is easier to read.

How do I divide fractions by hand?

Keep the first fraction, swap the numerator and denominator of the second fraction, and multiply. For example, 2/5 ÷ 1/3 = 2/5 × 3/1 = 6/5.

What does it mean to simplify a fraction?

Simplifying means dividing the top and bottom by the largest number that divides both evenly. The value stays the same, but the numbers get smaller. 12/16 simplifies to 3/4 because both 12 and 16 divide by 4.

Fraction Calculator – Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide

How to use the fraction calculator

Enter two fractions, choose an operation and press Calculate. Each fraction has three boxes:

Whole is optional. Fill it in for a mixed number such as 2 3/4, or enter only a whole number like 5.
Numerator is the top number of the fraction.
Denominator is the bottom number and cannot be zero.

For a negative fraction you can put the minus sign on the numerator or the denominator. For a negative mixed number, put the minus sign on the whole number only: whole -2, numerator 1, denominator 4 means -2 1/4.

The answer is shown in lowest terms, as a mixed number when it is larger than one, and as a decimal. A short list of steps explains how the answer was reached.

How the calculation works

Mixed numbers are first turned into improper fractions. For example, 2 3/4 becomes (2 × 4 + 3) / 4 = 11/4.

Adding and subtracting

The two fractions are rewritten over the least common denominator, which is the smallest number both denominators divide into. Then the numerators are added or subtracted. For 1/6 + 3/8 the least common denominator is 24, so the sum is 4/24 + 9/24 = 13/24.

Multiplying

Multiply the numerators together and the denominators together. For 2/3 × 9/10 you get 18/30.

Dividing

Flip the second fraction upside down and multiply. For 3/4 ÷ 5/8 you get 3/4 × 8/5 = 24/20.

Simplifying

Finally, the numerator and denominator are divided by their greatest common divisor. 18/30 has a greatest common divisor of 6, so it simplifies to 3/5. 24/20 simplifies to 6/5, which is the mixed number 1 1/5 and the decimal 1.2.

Good to know

All arithmetic is done with whole numbers, so the fraction result is exact. Only the decimal may be rounded; a rounded decimal is marked with ≈.
A fraction has a terminating decimal only when its simplified denominator has no prime factors other than 2 and 5. That is why 1/8 = 0.125 but 1/3 = 0.333…
Dividing by a fraction equal to zero is not possible, and you will see an error message.
Very large results that cannot be shown exactly are rejected rather than rounded.