How to Put a Fraction in a Calculator
Every calculator can take a fraction if you treat it as division. 3/4 is 3 ÷ 4. The keys around that division are what change from one device to another.
Basic and Scientific Keys
On a four-function calculator, type the numerator, division, then the denominator. A scientific model may have an a b/c or fraction key. Type the top, press that key, type the bottom, then equals. For a mixed number such as 2 1/3, use parentheses, (2 + 1/3), or convert it to the improper fraction 7/3.
Graphing Calculators
On a TI-84, the fraction template is often under ALPHA then Y=, or you can type the slash. MATH then Frac converts a decimal result back toward a fraction when the value is exact enough. The TI-84 calculator page shows where those menus sit. Parentheses still matter: (1/2)/(3/4) is not the same chain as 1 ÷ 2 ÷ 3 ÷ 4.
Read the Display
A decimal such as 0.75 may be exact, while 0.333333 is a cut-off form of 1/3. If the assignment wants a simplified fraction, use the fraction key or the fraction calculator instead of copying a long decimal. If the result is larger than 1 and you expected a proper fraction, you divided the denominator by the numerator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my calculator has no fraction key?
Divide the numerator by the denominator. That is the decimal value of the fraction.
How do I enter 2 1/4?
Enter (2 + 1/4) or the improper fraction 9/4. Do not type 21/4.
Why did I get a repeating decimal?
The fraction does not terminate. 1/3 is about 0.333, but the exact value is the repeating decimal.
How do I turn a decimal back into a fraction?
Use the fraction function, often MATH then Frac on a TI-84, or a fraction tool.
Does the slash always mean a fraction?
On most calculators the slash is division. Group longer expressions with parentheses.