How to Use the Fraction Calculator
Enter the numerator and denominator of two fractions, pick an operation (add, subtract, multiply, or divide), and instantly see the result as both a reduced fraction and a mixed number. Finding a common denominator is often the trickiest part of fraction math by hand, and this calculator handles that step along with simplifying automatically.
Addition and subtraction multiply the two denominators to get a common denominator, then combine the numerators (a/b ยฑ c/d = (ad ยฑ cb)/bd). Multiplication simply multiplies numerators together and denominators together (a/b x c/d = ac/bd), and division flips the second fraction and multiplies (a/b รท c/d = a/b x d/c). After the calculation, the result is divided by its greatest common divisor (GCD) to produce a fully reduced fraction.
If the result's numerator is larger than its denominator (an improper fraction), it's also shown as a mixed number โ a whole number plus a proper fraction. For example, 7/3 becomes 2 and 1/3. This is handy for checking math homework, scaling recipe ingredients, or working out measurements in woodworking and construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dividing by a fraction is mathematically the same as multiplying by its reciprocal. a/b divided by c/d equals a/b times d/c, and the numerator of the second fraction (c) cannot be 0.
A reduced fraction has its numerator and denominator divided by their greatest common divisor so it can't be simplified further. A mixed number expresses an improper fraction (numerator larger than denominator) as a whole number plus a proper fraction.