Fraction Calculator: Add, Subtract, Multiply & Divide
Fraction calculator online: add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions with automatic simplification and decimal equivalents.
Updated 2026-08-16
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Features
- Add two fractions with different denominators
- Subtract fractions with automatic common denominator
- Multiply fractions directly
- Divide fractions by inverting and multiplying
- Simplify fractions to lowest terms
- Show decimal equivalent
- Instant calculation as you type
- Perfect for math homework and cooking
- Handles improper fractions
How to Use
- 1Enter the first fraction (numerator and denominator).
- 2Select the operation (add, subtract, multiply, divide, or simplify).
- 3Enter the second fraction if needed.
- 4View the result as a fraction and decimal.
- 5See the simplified form automatically.
- 6Adjust a recipe by scaling fractions: multiply 3/4 cup by 2 to get 1 1/2 cups, directly in the calculator.
- 7Compare two fractions to see which is larger: subtract one from the other and check if the result is positive or negative.
- 8Simplify a fraction you encounter in carpentry or woodworking: enter 24/32 and instantly get the simplified 3/4.
- 9Convert an improper fraction like 7/4 to its decimal equivalent 1.75 for use in a spreadsheet or financial calculation.
- 10Add up measurements from a tape measure: enter 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 to get 7/8 inch for precise woodworking cuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add fractions with different denominators?
Find a common denominator (usually the LCM), convert each fraction, then add numerators. For 1/2 + 1/3: common denominator is 6, so 3/6 + 2/6 = 5/6. The calculator does this automatically.
How do I multiply fractions?
Multiply numerators together and denominators together. For 2/3 × 3/4: (2×3)/(3×4) = 6/12 = 1/2. Always simplify the result.
How do I divide fractions?
Multiply by the reciprocal (flip the second fraction). For 1/2 ÷ 1/4: 1/2 × 4/1 = 4/2 = 2. The calculator handles this automatically.
What does simplifying a fraction mean?
Simplifying means reducing to lowest terms by dividing both numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD). For 12/16, GCD is 4, so 12÷4 / 16÷4 = 3/4. Simplified fractions are easier to work with and are the standard way to present results.
Can I use improper fractions?
Yes. Improper fractions (numerator > denominator) work fine. For example, 7/4 = 1.75. The calculator doesn't convert to mixed numbers, but you can see the decimal equivalent.
Can I calculate with three or more fractions at once?
Each operation takes two fractions, so for three fractions you chain the results: 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/6 → 1/2 + 1/3 = 5/6, then 5/6 + 1/6 = 1. The decimal view helps you keep track between steps. Multiplication and division chain the same way.
Can I enter mixed numbers or whole numbers?
Whole numbers work by entering them as a fraction: 3 becomes 3/1. Mixed numbers like 1 1/2 are not directly supported: convert to an improper fraction first by multiplying the whole part by the denominator and adding the numerator (1 1/2 → 3/2), then enter that.
How do I find the least common denominator (LCD)?
The LCD is the least common multiple (LCM) of the denominators. For 1/3 + 1/5: LCM(3,5) = 15. Convert: 5/15 + 3/15 = 8/15. The calculator finds the LCD automatically for any pair of fractions.
How do I convert an improper fraction to a mixed number?
Divide numerator by denominator. For 7/4: 7 ÷ 4 = 1 remainder 3, so 1 3/4. The calculator shows the decimal equivalent (1.75) which represents the same value as the mixed number. For exact mixed number display, use a dedicated fraction-to-mixed-number tool.
How do I compare two fractions?
Cross-multiply: for a/b and c/d, compare a×d vs b×c. If a×d > b×c, then a/b > c/d. For 3/4 vs 2/3: 3×3=9, 4×2=8, 9>8 so 3/4 > 2/3. The calculator can do this by subtracting one fraction from another.
What is a complex fraction?
A complex fraction has a fraction in the numerator, denominator, or both. For example, (1/2)/(3/4). To simplify: multiply numerator by reciprocal of denominator: 1/2 × 4/3 = 4/6 = 2/3. The calculator handles this by performing the division operation.
Can fractions be used in real-world measurements?
Yes. Fractions are essential in: cooking (3/4 cup, 1/2 teaspoon), carpentry (3/8 inch, 1/4 inch), sewing (5/8 yard), construction (2/3 of a wall), medicine (1/2 tablet), and finance (1/4 of annual interest). The calculator handles all these real-world scenarios.
Why does my result look different from what I calculated by hand?
The calculator always reduces results to the simplest form: 4/8 becomes 1/2, and 10/4 becomes 5/2. If your handwritten result is unreduced or left as an improper fraction, it looks different but represents the same value. Negative results are normalized to the numerator (for example, -2/3, not 2/-3). Check the simplified output; the math is equivalent.
Can I calculate a fraction raised to a power, like (2/3)²?
Not directly: this calculator does the four basic operations plus simplification, with no exponent button. But a power of a fraction is easy by hand: (a/b)ⁿ = aⁿ/bⁿ. For (2/3)², compute 2² = 4 and 3² = 9, then enter 4/9 here, or enter 2/3 and read the decimal (0.6667), then raise that if your use case tolerates rounding.
What happens if I enter zero as a denominator?
The calculator rejects it: division by zero is undefined, and no fraction may have a denominator of zero, so an input like 5/0 or 0/0 produces no valid result. Double-check inputs that come from word problems or calculator transcriptions. A numerator of zero (0/5) is perfectly valid and simplifies to 0, and negative signs belong in the numerator; the tool normalizes them there automatically.
I accidentally entered the numerator and denominator swapped: how do I notice?
Swap errors are easy to spot with the decimal view: 3/4 entered as 4/3 shows 1.3333 instead of 0.75, and for division the result is the reciprocal: 1/2 ÷ 3/4 entered swapped gives 1.5 instead of 2/3. When an answer looks off by more than an order of magnitude, re-check the input order. If you only need the result and not the intermediate steps, the decimal column is the fastest sanity check.
Can I enter a decimal like 0.5 instead of a fraction?
No, both fields take whole numbers only, a numerator and a denominator (e.g., 1/2, not 0.5). Convert first: 0.5 = 5/10 = 1/2, and 0.75 = 3/4. For a decimal you cannot easily convert, read the result column instead: every fraction result already shows its decimal equivalent, so enter the fraction form and take the decimal from the output.