Fraction Calculator - Calculation: 1/2-1/5

Fraction calculator Enter fraction expression: 1/2-1/5 This calculator subtracts two fractions. First, convert all fractions to a common denominator when fractions have different denominators. Find Least Common Denominator (LCD) or multiply all denominators to find a common denominator. When all denominators are the same, simply subtract the numerators and place the result over the common denominator. Then simplify the result to the lowest terms or a mixed number.

The result:

1/2 - 1/5 = 3/10 = 0.3

The result spelled out in words is three tenths.

How do we solve fractions step by step?

1. Subtract: 1/2 - 1/5 = 1 · 5/2 · 5 - 1 · 2/5 · 2 = 5/10 - 2/10 = 5 - 2/10 = 3/10 It is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common (equal) denominator for subtracting fractions. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of both denominators - LCM(2, 5) = 10. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 2 × 5 = 10. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.In other words, one half minus one fifth equals three tenths.

Rules for expressions with fractions:

Fractions - write a forward slash to separate the numerator and the denominator, i.e., for five-hundredths, enter 5/100. If you use mixed numbers, leave a space between the whole and fraction parts. Mixed numerals (mixed numbers or fractions) - keep one space between the whole part and fraction and use a forward slash to input fraction i.e., 1 2/3 . A negative mixed fraction write for example as -5 1/2. A slash is both a sign for fraction line and division, use a colon (:) for division fractions i.e., 1/2 : 1/3. Decimals (decimal numbers) enter with a decimal dot . and they are automatically converted to fractions - i.e. 1.45.

Math Symbols

Symbol	Symbol name	Symbol Meaning	Example
+	plus sign	addition	1/2 + 1/3
-	minus sign	subtraction	1 1/2 - 2/3
*	asterisk	multiplication	2/3 * 3/4
×	times sign	multiplication	2/3 × 5/6
:	division sign	division	1/2 : 3
/	division slash	division	1/3 / 5
:	colon	complex fraction	1/2 : 1/3
^	caret	exponentiation / power	1/4^3
()	parentheses	calculate expression inside first	-3/5 - (-1/4)

Examples:

• adding fractions: 2/4 + 3/4• subtracting fractions: 2/3 - 1/2• multiplying fractions: 7/8 * 3/9• dividing Fractions: 1/2 : 3/4• reciprocal of a fraction: 1 : 3/4• square of a fraction: 2/3 ^ 2• cube of a fraction: 2/3 ^ 3• exponentiation of a fraction: 1/2 ^ 4• fractional exponents: 16 ^ 1/2• adding fractions and mixed numbers: 8/5 + 6 2/7• dividing integer and fraction: 5 ÷ 1/2• complex fractions: 5/8 : 2 2/3• decimal to fraction: 0.625• Fraction to Decimal: 1/4• Fraction to Percent: 1/8 %• comparing fractions: 1/4 2/3• square root of a fraction: sqrt(1/16)• expression with brackets: 1/3 * (1/2 - 3 3/8)• compound fraction: 3/4 of 5/7• fractions multiple: 2/3 of 3/5• divide to find the quotient: 3/5÷2/3 The calculator follows well-known rules for the order of operations. The most common mnemonics for remembering this order are:

• PEMDAS: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction.
• BEDMAS: Brackets, Exponents, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.
• BODMAS: Brackets, Order (or "Of"), Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.
• GEMDAS: Grouping symbols (brackets: (){}), Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction.
• MDAS: Multiplication and Division (same precedence), Addition and Subtraction (same precedence). MDAS is a subset of PEMDAS.

Important Notes: 1. Multiplication/Division vs. Addition/Subtraction: Always perform multiplication and division *before* addition and subtraction. 2. Left-to-Right Rule: Operators with the same precedence (e.g., + and -, or * and /) must be evaluated from left to right.

Fractions in word problems:

• I read I read 24 pages of a book. Three-fifth part of the book is still left for reading. How many pages does the whole book have?
• A quarter 2 A quarter of the 72 sandwiches contain cheese. The rest contain ham. How many are ham sandwiches?
• Two fractions multiply What is ⅔ × ⅚?
• Sipho Sipho and John got the same amount of work; Sipho did 19/34 of his homework, and John did 23/41 of his homework. What percentage of his homework did John do, and what percentage of his homework did Sipho not do?
• Marry Marry had 1 1/2 dozen eggs in the refrigerator. She used 1/3 of the eggs. What part of the eggs was used?
• 100/4700 66704 What is 1/8 of 100/4700?
• Two fractions multiply What is 4/5 when multiplied by 9/10?

more math problems »

Last Modified: November 19, 2025

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