The Fraction Calculator adds, subtracts, multiplies, and divides fractions — automatically simplifying the result to lowest terms and showing the decimal equivalent. No manual common denominator finding needed.

How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter the numerator and denominator of both fractions.
2. Select the operation: Add (+), Subtract (−), Multiply (×), or Divide (÷).
3. Click Calculate.

Example: 2/3 + 1/4 → click Add → result is 11/12 (with decimal 0.916…)

Fraction Operations Reference

Adding/Subtracting: Find a common denominator (multiply both denominators), adjust the numerators, then add or subtract. Simplify by dividing by the GCD.

Multiplying: Multiply numerator × numerator and denominator × denominator. Simplify.

Dividing: Multiply by the reciprocal of the second fraction (flip numerator and denominator), then multiply. Simplify.

What Does “Simplifying to Lowest Terms” Mean?

A fraction is in lowest terms (simplest form) when the numerator and denominator share no common factors other than 1. For example, 6/8 simplifies to 3/4 because both 6 and 8 are divisible by 2 (the GCD). The calculator does this automatically using the Euclidean algorithm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I enter mixed numbers?

Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions first: multiply the whole number by the denominator and add the numerator. For example, 2¾ = (2×4+3)/4 = 11/4.

Why do I see “simplified from X/Y”?

The calculator shows the unsimplified intermediate result for transparency, then the final simplified form.

Worked Example: Adding Two Fractions

Suppose you want to add 3/4 + 2/5. The calculator finds a common denominator (4 × 5 = 20), rewrites each fraction (3/4 = 15/20 and 2/5 = 8/20), adds the numerators (15 + 8 = 23), and returns 23/20, or 1 3/20 as a mixed number, with the decimal value 1.15. Because 23 and 20 share no common factor, the result is already in lowest terms.

Where You’ll Use Fractions in Real Life

• Cooking & baking: Doubling or halving a recipe means multiplying every fractional measurement (½ cup × 2 = 1 cup).
• Construction & DIY: Measurements in inches are almost always fractional (3⅝”, 7/16″).
• Finance: Interest rates, stock prices, and probabilities are often expressed as fractions before being converted to decimals or percentages.
• School & exams: Algebra, ratios, and probability questions all rely on confident fraction arithmetic.

Tips for Working With Fractions

Always simplify at the end so your answer is in its cleanest form. When comparing two fractions, convert both to the same denominator (or to decimals) first. To turn any fraction into a percentage, divide the numerator by the denominator and multiply by 100 — for example, 3/8 = 0.375 = 37.5%.