Four operations, answers already simplified
Do arithmetic with fractions and get the answer in lowest terms. Shows the working method so it is useful for checking homework.
Fraction arithmetic is where the rules stop being intuitive. Adding needs a common denominator; multiplying does not. Dividing means flipping the second fraction and multiplying.
Enter both fractions and the operation, and the result comes back reduced — 6/8 is shown as 3/4, because that is the form a teacher or a recipe expects.
What this calculator shows
- The result of the operation, reduced to lowest terms
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
- A simplified answer rather than an unwieldy raw fraction
What to keep in mind
- Denominators cannot be zero; the tool will not accept it.
- Results are proper or improper fractions, not mixed numbers — 7/4 rather than 1¾.
FAQs
Why do I need a common denominator to add but not to multiply?
Adding combines parts, so the parts must be the same size first. Multiplying scales one fraction by another, and the sizes take care of themselves.
How do I divide by a fraction?
Flip the second fraction and multiply. 1/2 ÷ 1/4 becomes 1/2 × 4/1 = 2 — there are indeed two quarters in a half.
What is an improper fraction?
One where the top is bigger than the bottom, like 7/4. It is perfectly valid and often easier to keep calculating with than the mixed form.
Does it always simplify?
Yes. The result is divided by the greatest common divisor of both parts, so 10/20 comes back as 1/2.
Worked example
Two thirds plus a quarter
Input: 2/3 + 1/4
Output: 11/12
Note: Twelve is the smallest number both 3 and 4 divide into, giving 8/12 + 3/12. Close to 1 but not quite there.