Fraction Calculator
Add, subtract, multiply, or divide two fractions or mixed numbers and see the steps.
How to add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions
Adding or subtracting needs a common denominator. For 1/2 + 1/3 the least common denominator is 6, so the problem becomes 3/6 + 2/6 = 5/6, about 0.8333. Multiplying is simpler: multiply the tops and the bottoms, so 3/4 × 2/5 = 6/20, which simplifies to 3/10. To divide, flip the second fraction and multiply.
Mixed numbers are turned into improper fractions first. 1 1/2 × 2/3 becomes 3/2 × 2/3 = 6/6, which is exactly 1. Every answer is reduced to lowest terms by dividing the top and bottom by their greatest common divisor, then shown as a fraction, a mixed number, and a decimal.
Check homework step by step
The steps list shows the same working a teacher expects: converting mixed numbers, finding the common denominator, combining, and simplifying. To reduce a single fraction without another operation, use the fraction simplifier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I enter a mixed number like 2 3/4?
Type 2 in the whole-number box, 3 in the numerator and 4 in the denominator. Leave the whole-number box empty for a plain fraction like 3/4. A negative whole number makes the whole mixed number negative, so -2 3/4 means -2.75.
Why does it convert to a common denominator?
You can only add or subtract fractions once they share a denominator. The calculator uses the least common denominator, the smallest number both denominators divide into, so 1/4 + 1/6 becomes 3/12 + 2/12 instead of the larger 6/24 + 4/24.
How does dividing fractions work?
Flip the second fraction and multiply: 3/4 ÷ 1/2 becomes 3/4 × 2/1 = 6/4, which simplifies to 3/2 or 1 1/2. Dividing by a fraction equal to zero has no answer, and the calculator tells you so instead of showing a number.
Can I type decimals into the boxes?
No. Each box takes a whole number, because a fraction's numerator and denominator are integers. Convert the decimal first, for example 0.75 is 3/4, or use the decimal to fraction converter and paste the result here.
Related tools
Reduce a single fraction to lowest terms.