Quick guide
How to use the mixed fraction calculator
- Choose the sign and enter the whole number, numerator, and denominator for each value. Use
0for the whole-number box when you only have a proper or improper fraction. - Select addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.
- Choose Calculate. The answer appears as a simplified mixed number, an improper fraction, and a decimal.
- Open the steps to see how each mixed number was converted and how the result was reduced.
The calculator accepts improper fractional parts too. For example, entering 1 6/4 is automatically normalized to 2 1/2. Denominators must always be greater than zero.
What is a mixed fraction?
A mixed fraction—also called a mixed number—combines a whole number and a proper fraction. For example, 2 3/4 means two whole units plus three quarters. Mixed numbers are common in recipes, construction measurements, time estimates, and elementary math.
Before mixed numbers can be added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided, it is usually easiest to convert them to improper fractions. Multiply the whole number by the denominator, then add the numerator:
For 2 3/4, calculate (2 × 4 + 3) / 4, which gives 11/4.
Mixed-number operations
Adding and subtracting
Convert both mixed numbers to improper fractions, find a common denominator, combine the numerators, and reduce the result.
Multiplying
Convert to improper fractions, multiply the numerators, multiply the denominators, and simplify.
Dividing
Convert to improper fractions, flip the second fraction to its reciprocal, multiply, and reduce. Division by zero is undefined.
Worked example: 1 1/2 + 2 1/3
First convert both mixed numbers to improper fractions:
1 1/2 = (1 × 2 + 1) / 2 = 3/22 1/3 = (2 × 3 + 1) / 3 = 7/3
Use a common denominator of six:
3/2 + 7/3 = 9/6 + 14/6 = 23/6
Finally, convert 23/6 back to a mixed number. Six fits into 23 three times with a remainder of five, so the answer is 3 5/6.