Fraction Calculator
Add, subtract, multiply and divide any two fractions instantly
About this tool
This free fraction calculator handles all four arithmetic operations — addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division — for any two fractions. Results are automatically reduced to the simplest form (lowest terms) and shown alongside the decimal equivalent. Step-by-step working is displayed below so you can follow the calculation or check your own work.
How each operation works: to add or subtract fractions, find a common denominator (the LCM of the two denominators), convert both fractions, then add or subtract the numerators. To multiply, simply multiply numerator × numerator and denominator × denominator, then simplify. To divide, invert the second fraction (take its reciprocal) and multiply. This calculator handles all of these steps automatically, including finding the GCD to simplify the result.
Fractions come up constantly in real life: cooking recipes that need to be scaled (doubling ¾ cup gives 1½ cups), woodworking and construction measurements (adding 3/8 inch to 5/16 inch), medication dosages, music time signatures, and of course math homework from elementary school through college. The step-by-step display makes this tool especially useful for students who need to understand the method, not just the answer.
Enter any whole numbers as the numerator and denominator — negative fractions are supported too. If you need to work with mixed numbers (like 2½), convert them to improper fractions first: 2½ = 5/2.