Fraction Calculator

Add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions with step-by-step solutions

Calculate Fractions

First Fraction

Fraction: 1/2

Decimal: 0.500000

+

Second Fraction

Fraction: 1/3

Decimal: 0.333333

Addition Result

1/2 + 1/3 = 5/6
Simplified Fraction
5/6
Mixed Number
5/6
Decimal
0.833333

Result Properties:

Type: Proper Fraction
Sign: Positive

Step-by-Step Solution

1.Calculating: 1/2 + 1/3
2.Find common denominator: LCM(2, 3) = 6
3.Convert to equivalent fractions:
4.1/2 = 3/6
5.1/3 = 2/6
6.Add numerators: 3 + 2 = 5
7.= 5/6

Example Operations

Addition & Subtraction

Same denominators: 1/4 + 3/4 = 4/4 = 1
Different denominators: 1/2 + 1/3 = 3/6 + 2/6 = 5/6
Subtraction: 3/4 - 1/4 = 2/4 = 1/2

Multiplication & Division

Multiplication: 2/3 × 3/4 = 6/12 = 1/2
Division: 1/2 ÷ 1/4 = 1/2 × 4/1 = 2
With whole numbers: 3 × 2/5 = 6/5 = 1⅕

Operation Guide

+

Addition

Find common denominator, add numerators

Subtraction

Find common denominator, subtract numerators

×

Multiplication

Multiply numerators and denominators

÷

Division

Multiply by the reciprocal of second fraction

Fraction Tips

Always simplify fractions to lowest terms

Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions before calculating

Find the LCM for addition and subtraction

Division = multiplication by reciprocal

Check your work by converting to decimals

Understanding Fraction Operations

What Are Fractions?

A fraction represents part of a whole. The numerator (top number) shows how many parts we have, and the denominator (bottom number) shows the total number of equal parts.

Types of Fractions

  • Proper: Numerator < Denominator (e.g., 3/4)
  • Improper: Numerator ≥ Denominator (e.g., 5/3)
  • Mixed: Whole number + proper fraction (e.g., 1⅔)

Operation Rules

Addition/Subtraction

1. Find common denominator (LCM)

2. Convert to equivalent fractions

3. Add/subtract numerators

4. Simplify result

Multiplication

1. Multiply numerators together

2. Multiply denominators together

3. Simplify result

Division

1. Keep first fraction unchanged

2. Find reciprocal of second fraction

3. Multiply the fractions

4. Simplify result

Real-World Applications

Cooking & Recipes

Scaling recipes up or down, combining ingredients

Construction & DIY

Measuring materials, calculating dimensions

Time & Scheduling

Working with parts of hours, time calculations