Add, subtract, multiply, or divide fractions and mixed numbers. Shows step-by-step work and automatically simplifies results.
Fractions represent parts of a whole. The top number (numerator) tells how many parts you have, and the bottom number (denominator) tells how many equal parts make up the whole. This calculator handles the four basic fraction operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, plus simplification and conversion between fractions, decimals, and percentages.
Enter two fractions and select the operation. The calculator shows the result in simplified form, as a mixed number (if applicable), and as a decimal. You can also enter mixed numbers (like 2 1/3) and the calculator handles the conversion automatically. For simplification only, enter a single fraction and the calculator reduces it to lowest terms.
Fractions are essential in cooking (halving or doubling recipes), construction (measurements in inches), sewing (fabric calculations), music (time signatures), and math homework. The Cooking Converter handles recipe-specific conversions. The Percentage Calculator converts fractions to percentages.
Fractions appear constantly in cooking (1/4 cup, 2/3 tablespoon), construction (3/4 inch plywood, 5/8 inch drywall), finance (basis points are 1/100 of a percent), and music (time signatures like 3/4 and 6/8). Understanding fraction equivalents speeds up mental math: 1/8 = 12.5%, 1/6 = 16.7%, 1/5 = 20%, 1/4 = 25%, 1/3 = 33.3%, 3/8 = 37.5%, 2/5 = 40%, 1/2 = 50%. The key operations are finding common denominators (for addition and subtraction), cross-multiplying (for comparison), and simplifying by dividing both numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor. Improper fractions (where the numerator exceeds the denominator, like 7/4) can be converted to mixed numbers (1 3/4) for easier interpretation.