Build Your Expression
Top field — numerator, bottom — denominator; the optional whole part goes on the left.
Add as many fractions as you need (up to 8). Multiplication and division are always done before addition and subtraction, left to right.
Result with Steps
Step by step
About this fraction calculator
Fractions are the first place where arithmetic stops being obvious: 1/2 + 1/3 is not 2/5, it is 5/6. This calculator does all four operations — addition, subtraction, multiplication and division — on proper fractions, improper fractions and mixed numbers, and accepts whole expressions of up to eight fractions, not just two. The answer comes out simplified, as a mixed number and as a decimal.
Long expressions follow the standard order of operations: multiplication and division are done first, left to right, then addition and subtraction. So 1/2 + 1/3 × 3/4 becomes 1/2 + 1/4 = 3/4, and every step is written out — you can see exactly which pair was folded and when.
Mixed numbers like 2 1/3 are accepted in every fraction, and negative fractions work too. That makes it a study aid, not just an answer machine: check your homework step by step and see exactly where a mistake slipped in. Everything runs locally in your browser — no data leaves the page.
Common fraction operations
| Operation | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 + 1/3 | 5/6 | Adding needs a common denominator: 3/6 + 2/6 |
| 3/4 − 1/8 | 5/8 | Subtracting: 6/8 − 1/8 |
| 2/3 × 3/4 | 1/2 | Multiplying straight across, then simplifying |
| 1/2 ÷ 1/4 | 2 | Dividing = multiplying by the reciprocal |
| 5/8 | 0.625 | Every fraction is also a division |
| 7/3 | 2 1/3 | Improper fractions rewrite as mixed numbers |
| 1/2 + 1/3 × 3/4 | 3/4 | Order of operations: 1/3 × 3/4 first, then + 1/2 |
The four rules of fractions
Addition and subtraction need a common denominator: a/b + c/d = (ad + cb) / bd, then simplify. Multiplication is straight across: a/b × c/d = ac / bd. Division flips the second fraction: a/b ÷ c/d = a/b × d/c = ad / bc.
For expressions with several operations the calculator applies the standard mathematical order: first all multiplications and divisions from left to right, then additions and subtractions from left to right — exactly as with ordinary numbers. Parentheses are not supported.
Simplifying means dividing top and bottom by their greatest common divisor until the fraction is in lowest terms: 6/8 becomes 3/4, and 10/4 becomes 2 1/2. A denominator of zero is never allowed, and dividing by a fraction equal to zero is undefined.
How to calculate with fractions
- Enter the fractions: Each fraction has a numerator on top and a denominator below; use the whole-part field for mixed numbers.
- Add more fractions and operations: Press “Add fraction” and pick the operation between fractions — as many as you need, up to 8.
- Read the result and steps: Multiplications and divisions are folded first, then additions — each step is shown.
FAQ
Why is 1/2 + 1/3 equal to 5/6 and not 2/5?
You can only add fractions with the same denominator. Convert to sixths first: 1/2 = 3/6 and 1/3 = 2/6, so the sum is 5/6.
How do I divide fractions?
Keep the first fraction, flip the second, and multiply: 1/2 ÷ 1/4 = 1/2 × 4/1 = 4/2 = 2. This is the “keep–flip–multiply” rule.
What is an improper fraction?
A fraction whose numerator is at least its denominator, like 7/3. It equals the mixed number 2 1/3 — the calculator shows both forms.
How do I simplify a fraction?
Divide the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD). For 12/18 the GCD is 6, so 12/18 = 2/3.