Fraction Calculator

Fractions represent parts of a whole, but adding or subtracting them can be a headache when denominators (the bottom numbers) don't match. This calculator handles the heavy lifting of finding standard common denominators and reducing results to their simplest form, saving you from tedious manual math.

Precision vs. Approximation

In a digital world of decimals, fractions might seem old-fashioned, but they are often more precise. `1/3` is exact, while `0.333...` is always an approximation. This precision is critical in:

• Cooking & Baking: Recipes are the most common place we see fractions. Doubling a recipe that calls for "3/4 cup" of sugar requires adding fractions (3/4 + 3/4 = 6/4 = 1 1/2 cups). Precision here makes the difference between a delicious cake and a dry disaster.
• Construction & DIY: Tape measures in the US are marked in fractions (1/16, 1/8, 1/4 inch). "Measure twice, cut once" relies on your ability to add and subtract these fractions accurately.
• Music: Time signatures (4/4, 3/4) and note lengths (whole, half, quarter, eighth notes) are purely fractional. Understanding rhythm is essentially understanding how to add fractions to equal a whole measure.

Operations Guide

Multiplying fractions is arguably the easiest: you simply multiply straight across (top times top, bottom times bottom). Dividing is a "flip": you flip the second fraction upside down (create its reciprocal) and then multiply. Adding and Subtraction are the trickiest because they require a "Common Denominator"—you must change the fractions so they share the same bottom number before you can combine them.