Fraction Visualiser & Calculator
See fractions as pies, bars and area models. Add, subtract, multiply, divide or compare fractions and mixed numbers — with every step, from LCD to the simplified answer.
To add or subtract fractions, make the denominators the same using the LCD, which is the LCM of the denominators, then add or subtract the numerators: 1/4 + 1/6 = 3/12 + 2/12 = 5/12. To multiply, multiply the tops and the bottoms. To divide, keep–change–flip: 1/2 ÷ 1/4 = 1/2 × 4/1 = 2.
Your fractions
Fill the big box for a mixed number. Tap ± (or type −) to make a fraction negative.
See it
Each shape is one whole cut into equal parts.
Step-by-step working
Build a fraction
Slide to change the top and bottom numbers and watch every picture update.
Equivalent fractions
Multiply (or divide) the top and bottom by the same number — the shaded amount stays exactly the same.
On the number line
Understand fractions, don’t just calculate them
Every answer comes with a picture and the exact method your textbook uses — so you can check homework and learn the “why”.
Type two fractions
Use the big box for whole numbers (mixed numbers like 2¾) and ± for negatives.
Pick an operation
Add, subtract, multiply, divide — or compare to see which fraction is bigger.
See the picture
Switch between pies and bars; multiplication adds an area model, division shows “how many fit”.
Follow the steps
LCD, equivalent fractions, keep–change–flip, HCF and mixed-number conversion — all with your numbers.
Parts of a fraction
In 34 the denominator 4 says the whole is cut into 4 equal parts; the numerator 3 says we take 3 of them.
Proper (top < bottom): 3/4 · Improper (top ≥ bottom): 7/4 · Mixed number: 1¾ = 7/4.
Adding & subtracting
Only like fractions (same denominator) can be added directly. Find the LCD = LCM of the denominators, rewrite each fraction, then add or subtract the numerators.
1/4 + 1/6 = 3/12 + 2/12 = 5/12
Multiplying & dividing
Multiply tops together and bottoms together: 2/3 × 3/5 = 6/15 = 2/5.
To divide, Keep the first fraction, Change ÷ to ×, Flip the second: 1/2 ÷ 1/4 = 1/2 × 4/1 = 2.
Simplifying & comparing
Divide top and bottom by their HCF: 18/24 → HCF 6 → 3/4.
To compare a/b and c/d, cross-multiply: compare a × d with c × b. For 5/8 and 3/5: 25 > 24, so 5/8 > 3/5.
Fraction Visualiser & Calculator — your questions
How do I add fractions with different denominators?
Find the LCD, which is the LCM of the two denominators, rewrite each fraction with that denominator, then add only the numerators. For 1/4 + 1/6 the LCD is 12, so the fractions become 3/12 and 2/12, giving 5/12. Never add the denominators — the denominator says how big each part is, not how many you have.
How do you divide fractions?
Use keep–change–flip: keep the first fraction, change ÷ to ×, and flip the second fraction upside down. So 1/2 ÷ 1/4 becomes 1/2 × 4/1 = 4/2 = 2, which makes sense because two quarters fit into one half twice. Turn any mixed number into an improper fraction before you start.
What is an equivalent fraction?
An equivalent fraction has a different numerator and denominator but shades the same amount. Multiply or divide the top and bottom by the same number: 1/2 = 2/4 = 3/6 = 4/8. The Explore tab draws each one as pies and bars, so you can see that the shaded part never changes.
How do I simplify a fraction to its lowest terms?
Divide the numerator and the denominator by their HCF. For 18/24 the HCF is 6, so 18 ÷ 6 = 3 and 24 ÷ 6 = 4, giving 3/4. If you divide by a smaller common factor you will simply need more steps, and the final answer is the same when no common factor is left except 1.
How do I compare two fractions without a calculator?
Cross-multiply and compare the two products. For 5/8 and 3/5, work out 5 × 5 = 25 and 3 × 8 = 24; since 25 is the larger product and it came from the 5/8 side, 5/8 is bigger. The same answer appears if you convert both to the LCD of 40, giving 25/40 and 24/40.
What is the difference between a proper, improper and mixed fraction?
In a proper fraction the numerator is smaller than the denominator, as in 3/4. In an improper fraction the numerator is equal to or bigger than the denominator, as in 7/4. A mixed number writes the same value as a whole number and a proper fraction, so 7/4 = 1¾. Answers here are given in both forms.