Fraction Calculator - Calculation: 2/3-5/12

Fraction calculator Enter fraction expression: 2/3-5/12 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:

2/3 - 5/12 = 1/4 = 0.25

The result spelled out in words is one quarter.

How do we solve fractions step by step?

1. Subtract: 2/3 - 5/12 = 2 · 4/3 · 4 - 5/12 = 8/12 - 5/12 = 8 - 5/12 = 3/12 = 3 · 1/3 · 4 = 1/4 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(3, 12) = 12. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 3 × 12 = 36. In the following intermediate step, cancel by a common factor of 3 gives 1/4. In other words, two thirds minus five twelfths equals one quarter.

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:

• Puzzle game In a letter puzzle game, John can use every alphabet only once. He used only 8 alphabets to solve the puzzle. What fraction of the 26 alphabets did he use? Express your answer as a fraction in the simplest form.
• In fractions An ant climbs 2/5 of the pole in the first hour and climbs 1/4 of the pole in the next hour. What part of the pole does the ant climb in two hours?
• Vegetarian menu At a restaurant, 2/3 of the dishes on the menu are vegetarian. Of the vegetarian dishes, 1/10 are pasta dishes. What fraction of the dishes on the menu are vegetarian pasta dishes?
• Test questions Irena solves the test. She solved three-quarters of all questions during the first reading and another sixth during the review. In total, she solved 22 questions. How many questions does the whole test consist of?
• The cat The cat starts with 4/6 of a cup in his bowl. It eats 1/4 of a cup of food. How much food is left?
• Peter multiplies Peter try to calculate: 3/4 x 2/3 He did 3x3 to get 9 and 4 x 2 to get 8. The final answer is 8/9. Can you explain the error and how to help? What is the correct answer?
• A less than B What is 3/5 less than 11/12? (Answer should be in proper or improper only: Example 1/2, -1/2, 3/2, and -3/2)

more math problems »

Last Modified: November 19, 2025

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