EstimatorFraction Calculator
Add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions and mixed numbers — with every step of the working shown, free. Solvers charge for the steps; here they are just part of the answer.
Step-by-step working
How it works
Mixed numbers are first converted to improper fractions (whole × denominator + numerator). Adding and subtracting need a common denominator — the least common multiple of both denominators — while multiplying goes straight across, and dividing flips the second fraction and multiplies (keep, change, flip). Finally the result is simplified by dividing top and bottom by their greatest common divisor, and converted back to a mixed number, a decimal and a percent. Every one of those steps is listed under the result.
Method & worked example
Method: Mixed numbers are first converted to improper fractions. For + and −, the tool finds a common denominator — the least common multiple of the two denominators — combines the numerators, then simplifies by the greatest common divisor. For × it multiplies straight across, and for ÷ it flips the second fraction and multiplies.
Worked example: 1½ + ⅔ becomes 3/2 + 2/3. The LCM of 2 and 3 is 6, so 9/6 + 4/6 = 13/6 = 2 1/6 — as a decimal 2.1667, or 216.67%.
When to use this
- Homework asks for fractions added or subtracted across different denominators and you need the working, not just the answer.
- A recipe, a woodworking cut list or a fabric measurement mixes halves, quarters and sixths that must be combined exactly.
- You are checking a division-of-fractions answer where the flip step is easy to get backwards.
- A result has to be reported three ways — mixed number for the worksheet, decimal for the calculator check, percent for the report.
How to use it, step by step
- Enter the first number as a whole part plus a numerator and denominator — leave the whole part at 0 for a plain fraction.
- Choose the operation: add, subtract, multiply or divide.
- Enter the second number the same way.
- Press Calculate with steps and read the simplified result in the headline.
- Follow the step list underneath: improper-fraction conversion, the common denominator or the flip, then the simplification — and check the decimal and percent rows against your own rough estimate.
What the inputs mean
| Input | What it is | Typical values |
|---|---|---|
| Whole part | The whole-number part of a mixed number | 0 for a plain fraction; 2 in the mixed number two and three quarters |
| Numerator | The top number of the fraction part | Any whole number; it may be larger than the denominator |
| Denominator | The bottom number of the fraction part — never 0 | Commonly 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 or 12 in school and kitchen work |
| Operation | Add, subtract, multiply or divide | Subtraction and division are where order matters most |
Another worked example
Subtracting 1 1/6 from 2 3/4: both numbers first become improper fractions, 11/4 and 7/6. The least common multiple of 4 and 6 is 12, so the subtraction runs as 33/12 minus 14/12 = 19/12, which is already in lowest terms. The calculator reports the result as the mixed number 1 7/12, with the decimal form 1.5833 and the percent form 158.33%.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add fractions with different denominators?
Find a common denominator — the least common multiple of the two denominators — rewrite both fractions with it, then add the numerators. 1/2 + 1/3 becomes 3/6 + 2/6 = 5/6. The steps above show this for your numbers.
Why do you flip the second fraction when dividing?
Dividing by a fraction asks "how many of these fit into that?" — which is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal. So 3/4 ÷ 2/5 = 3/4 × 5/2 = 15/8.
How do I enter a mixed number like 2¾?
Put 2 in the whole part, 3 in the numerator and 4 in the denominator. It is converted to 11/4 behind the scenes and the result is converted back to a mixed number for you.
Is the step-by-step working really free?
Yes. Photo-and-solver apps typically charge a subscription to reveal steps; here the full working is shown for every calculation at no cost.
🔬 Need decimals, powers or trig?
The Scientific Calculator handles full expressions with logs, roots and factorials.
Open the scientific calculator
Can I enter a plain whole number, like 3, as one side?
Yes — put 3 in the whole part, 0 in the numerator and 1 in the denominator. It is treated as the fraction 3/1, so it combines with fractions normally: a whole number times a fraction, for example, is just the whole part with the fraction's denominator kept underneath after the multiply and simplify steps.
How do negative fractions work here?
A minus sign on the whole part or on the numerator makes the whole value negative — the tool takes the sign from either field and works with the absolute parts. Enter a negative mixed number as a negative whole part with a positive numerator and denominator, and expect a negative result to keep its sign in the mixed, decimal and percent forms.