This calculator adds two fractions. First, all fractions are converted to a common denominator when fractions have different denominators. Find the Least Common Denominator (LCD) or multiply all denominators to find a common denominator. When all denominators are the same, subtract the numerators and place the result over the common denominator. Then, simplify the result to the lowest terms or a mixed number.
The result:
3/8 + 1/2 = 7/8 = 0.875
The spelled result in words is seven eighths.
How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Add: 3/8 + 1/2 = 3/8 + 1 · 4/2 · 4 = 3/8 + 4/8 = 3 + 4/8 = 7/8
It is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common (equal, identical) denominator for adding, subtracting, and comparing fractions. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of both denominators - LCM(8, 2) = 8. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 8 × 2 = 16. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - three eighths plus one half is seven eighths.
Rules for expressions with fractions:
Fractions - use a forward slash to divide the numerator by the denominator, i.e., for five-hundredths, enter 5/100. If you use mixed numbers, leave a space between the whole and fraction parts.
Mixed numerals (mixed numbers or fractions) keep one space between the integer and
fraction and use a forward slash to input fractions i.e., 12/3 . An example of a negative mixed fraction: -5 1/2.
Because slash is both sign for fraction line and division, use a colon (:) as the operator of division fractions i.e., 1/2 : 1/3.
Decimals (decimal numbers) enter with a decimal point . and they are automatically converted to fractions - i.e. 1.45.
Math Symbols
| Symbol | Symbol name | Symbol Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| + | plus sign | addition | 1/2 + 1/3 |
| - | minus sign | subtraction | 1 1/2 - 2/3 |
| * | asterisk | multiplication | 2/3 * 3/4 |
| × | times sign | multiplication | 2/3 × 5/6 |
| : | division sign | division | 1/2 : 3 |
| / | division slash | division | 1/3 / 5 |
| : | colon | complex fraction | 1/2 : 1/3 |
| ^ | caret | exponentiation / power | 1/4^3 |
| () | parentheses | calculate expression inside first | -3/5 - (-1/4) |
Examples:
• adding fractions: 2/4 + 3/4
• subtracting fractions: 2/3 - 1/2
• multiplying fractions: 7/8 * 3/9
• dividing Fractions: 1/2 : 3/4
• reciprocal of a fraction: 1 : 3/4
• square of a fraction: 2/3 ^ 2
• cube of a fraction: 2/3 ^ 3
• exponentiation of a fraction: 1/2 ^ 4
• fractional exponents: 16 ^ 1/2
• adding fractions and mixed numbers: 8/5 + 6 2/7
• dividing integer and fraction: 5 ÷ 1/2
• complex fractions: 5/8 : 2 2/3
• decimal to fraction: 0.625
• Fraction to Decimal: 1/4
• Fraction to Percent: 1/8 %
• comparing fractions: 1/4 2/3
• square root of a fraction: sqrt(1/16)
• expression with brackets: 1/3 * (1/2 - 3 3/8)
• compound fraction: 3/4 of 5/7
• fractions multiple: 2/3 of 3/5
• divide to find the quotient: 3/5÷2/3
The calculator follows well-known rules for the order of operations. The most common mnemonics for remembering this order of operations are:
PEMDAS - Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction.
BEDMAS - Brackets, Exponents, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction
BODMAS - Brackets, Of or Order, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.
GEMDAS - Grouping Symbols - brackets (){}, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction.
MDAS - Multiplication and Division have the same precedence over Addition and Subtraction. The MDAS rule is the order of operations part of the PEMDAS rule.
Be careful; always do multiplication and division before addition and subtraction. Some operators (+ and -) and (* and /) have the same priority and must be evaluated from left to right.
Fractions in word problems:
- Puzzle game In a letter puzzle game, John can use every alphabet only once. He used only 8 alphabets to solve the puzzle. What fraction of the 26 alphabets did he use? Express your answer as a fraction in the simplest form.
- Reduce fractions The following fraction is reduced to its lowest terms except one. Which of these: A. 98/99 B. 73/179 C. 1/250 D. 81/729
- Simplify 12 Simplify {1/3 + 1/12} ÷ {2/3 - 5/8}
- Brown or black Max has 13 pairs of socks. From this, six pairs are blue, three pairs are brown, two are black, and two are white. What fraction of Max's socks are either brown or black?
- Denominator 2 The denominator of a fraction is five, and the numerator is 7. Write the fraction.
- In the cafeteria There are 18 students in Jacob's homeroom. Six students bring their lunch to school. The rest eat lunch in the cafeteria. In the simplest form, what fraction of students eat lunch in the cafeteria?
- A quarter A quarter of the number 72 is:
more math problems »
Last Modified: June 4, 2024
