How to Enter Fractions on a Calculator

Even if you have a calculator at hand, calculating fractions is not necessarily easy. You can enter fractions on the calculator by using the fraction button. If your computer doesn’t have this feature, use an online calculator (if you have permission). Another option is that you can convert fractions to decimals or percentages.

Table of Contents

Use the fraction button on a scientific calculator

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Switch the calculator to math mode (if necessary). Press the “mode” button to open the menu. Select “math” from the list to start math mode. You need to check if the word “math” is displayed on the screen. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Not all calculators have a math mode.
On some calculators that don’t have a math mode, you can simply press the function button to enter the fraction.

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Press the function button to enter the fraction. Find the button with a black box icon on a white square, x/y or b/c. Press this button to open the fraction feature on the calculator. ^{[2] X Research Source}

When the fraction feature is on, the fraction pattern will appear on the calculator screen. The fraction will now have the form of 2 blank cells lying on top of each other, separated by a horizontal line.
On some computers, cells separated by the letter “L” act as horizontal lines.

Other case: You need to press the “shift” button before pressing the fraction button to enter mixed numbers. A third cell will be inserted before the fractional denominator so that you can enter the whole number of the mixed number. The cursor will start in this cell, so you need to enter an integer first, then a fraction. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Enter the numerator in the box above. The cursor will start in the upper cell of the fraction. Use the numeric keypad on your calculator to enter the numerator (the uppermost number in the fraction). ^{[4] X Research Sources}

For example, for 4/5, you need to enter “4” in the box above.

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Press the down arrow button to move the mouse pointer to the cell below. Find the arrow buttons on your computer keyboard and press the down arrow to move the pointer down to the cell below in the fractional denominator. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

If the cells in the pattern are separated by an “L”, you may need to press the right arrow button to move the cursor. Try pressing this button if the downward button doesn’t work.

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Enter the denominator in the box below. Use the numeric keypad to enter the denominator (the number below the fraction). Then check again that the fraction displayed on the computer screen is correct. ^{[6] X Research Source}

For example, for the fraction 4/5, you need to enter the number “5” in the box below. Finally, you need to check if the fraction shows 4/5 correctly.

Using an online calculator

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Find fraction calculators online. Online calculators are the fastest and easiest way to do fractional calculations if you have permission to use the Internet. Type “fraction calculator” or “fraction calculator” into your preferred browser and click search to find an online calculator. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

You can find the calculator online here: https://www.helpingwithmath.com/resources/cal_fractions.htm

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Insert the first fraction into the top frame of the calculator. Most online calculators will have 2 frames where you can add, subtract, multiply, or divide 2 fractions. Enter the first fraction in the box at the top of the calculator. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Each online calculator will have different instructions. Follow the instructions of the online computer you are using.

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Enter the numerator, slash, and then the denominator. Use the numeric keypad to enter the number above the fraction (or numerator). Then, press the slash key and enter the number below the fraction (the denominator). ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Choose to add, subtract, multiply, or divide. Use the mouse pointer to click the type of calculation you want to perform. Choose to add, subtract, multiply or divide and make sure to double check that the circle next to your selection is highlighted. ^{[10] X Research Source}

If the calculator you’re using requires manual input, use the numeric keypad to enter the calculation.

Convert fractions to decimals

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Divide the numerator by the denominator to get a decimal. The numerator is the top number in the fraction. Enter the numerator into the calculator and then press the divider button. Then, enter the denominator (the number below the fraction) into the calculator. Press the equals button to see the decimal result. ^{[13] X Research Source}

For example, the decimal of 3/4 would be 0.75.
In essence, fractions are a form of division.

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Write integers in mixed numbers along with decimals. Mixed numbers include both whole numbers and fractions. The integer will stay the same when you convert the fraction to a decimal. Write an integer in the answer box, then divide the numerator by the denominator of the fraction. Put a comma after the integer and write the decimal you just divided the fraction into afterwards. ^{[14] X Research Source}

For example, with a mixed number 2-2/3, we have 2/3 = 0.67. The decimal of the mixed number will be 2.67.

Another case: You can also rewrite the mixed number as a fraction with a numerator greater than the denominator to make it easier to convert to a decimal. For example, with a mixed number 1-3/4, we have 1 x 4 = 4 (since the integer represents a simple fraction, 1 = 4/4). Then you take 4 + 3 = 7. The fraction with a larger numerator than the denominator we have will be 7/4. Now you can take 7/4 = 1.75.

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Convert 2 fractions to decimal before calculating. If you’re adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing 2 fractions, use division first to convert them to decimals. Then use these numbers to work out the results. ^{[15] X Research Source}

For example, let’s calculate 1/2 + 3/5. First, we have 1/2 = 0.5 and 3/5 = 0.6. Conclusion: 1/2 + 3/5 = 0.5 + 0.6 = 1.1.

Write fractions as a percentage

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Divide the numerator by the denominator. Consider the line that separates 2 numbers in a fraction as the division sign. Enter the top number of the fraction into the calculator and then press the divide button. Then enter the number below in the fraction and press the equal sign. You will get a decimal.

For example: 1/4 = 0.25.

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Multiply the last result by 100 to convert from decimal to percentage. 1% = 1/100, so a decimal will convert to a percentage if you multiply the number by 100. Enter the decimal into the calculator and then press the multiply button. Then enter 100 and then tap the equal sign.

For example: 0.25 x 100 = 25.
Or you can just move the decimal point 2 units to the right.

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Put a % sign after the last number to show that this is a percentage. When writing, add a % symbol after the result to represent this as a percentage number. ^{[16] X Research Source}

In the last example, 1/4 = 25%.

Advice

When you present your answer, you must reduce the fraction to its simplest form. For example, with the answer 2/4, you need to conclude that it is 1/2. Similarly, for 5/4 you need to convert to 1-1/4.

Steps

Use the fraction button on a scientific calculator

Using an online calculator

Convert fractions to decimals

Write fractions as a percentage

Advice

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