Fraction Calculator

Add, subtract, multiply or divide fractions, simplified automatically.

Result (lowest terms)
As a decimal
Mixed number
As a percentage

Denominators cannot be zero. Negative numerators are allowed for negative fractions.

Working with fractions

Multiplying fractions is direct — multiply the tops, multiply the bottoms. Dividing flips the second fraction and multiplies. Adding and subtracting need a common denominator first, so the parts are the same size before you combine them.

Add / subtracta/b ± c/d = (ad ± cb) / bd
Multiplya/b × c/d = ac / bd
Dividea/b ÷ c/d = ad / bc

Whatever the operation, the answer is then reduced to lowest terms by dividing the top and bottom by their greatest common divisor.

Worked example

One half plus one third is found over a common denominator of 6: 3/6 + 2/6 = 5/6. That is already in lowest terms — about 0.833 as a decimal, or 83.33%.

Three ways to read the same value

A fraction, a decimal and a percentage are three views of one number. Fractions are exact and great for reasoning; decimals are easy to compare and feed into other sums; percentages communicate proportion at a glance. Seeing all three together helps the idea click.

Tips that help

  • Simplify early. Smaller numbers are easier to work with and to check.
  • Common denominators only for + and −. Multiplying and dividing do not need them.
  • Improper is fine. 7/4 and 1 3/4 are the same value — use whichever is clearer.

Frequently asked questions

How are fractions added?
They are rewritten over a common denominator first, then the numerators are added. The calculator uses the product of the two denominators and simplifies the result to lowest terms.
What does simplifying to lowest terms mean?
It means dividing the top and bottom by their greatest common divisor so no smaller equivalent fraction exists — for example 6/8 becomes 3/4.
How do I divide by a fraction?
Multiply by its reciprocal — flip the second fraction and multiply. Dividing by 2/3 is the same as multiplying by 3/2, which the calculator does for you.
What is a mixed number?
A whole number plus a proper fraction, like 1 1/2. It is another way of writing an improper fraction such as 3/2, often easier to picture.