Basic Calculator

What is 30 divided by 5? It’s 6. Type any sum — with +, −, ×, ÷, brackets, powers and fractions — and this basic calculator shows the answer and every step, in the right order.

Use + - × ÷ (or * and /), brackets, ^ for powers, √ and fractions like 3/4

Result

Enter values and press Calculate to see the result.

Formula

( )  →  xn,    →  × ÷  →  + −(\,)\;\to\; x^n,\ \sqrt{\ }\;\to\; \times\ \div\;\to\; +\ -

Order of operations: brackets first, then powers and roots, then × and ÷ from left to right, then + and − from left to right.

How to use this calculator

  1. Type the sum as you would write it, for example 30 ÷ 5 or 13 × 8. On a keyboard, * means × and / means ÷.
  2. Press Calculate. The answer is exact — fractions stay as fractions, with a decimal shown too.
  3. Read the steps to see which operation is done first and why.

Worked examples

Easy: 30 divided by 5

30 ÷ 5 asks how many 5s make 30.

5 × 6 = 30, so 30 ÷ 5 = 6.

Check: 6 × 5 = 30 ✓.

Medium: 13 times 8

Split 13 into 10 + 3: 10 × 8 = 80 and 3 × 8 = 24.

80 + 24 = 104, so 13 × 8 = 104.

Check: 104 ÷ 8 = 13 ✓.

Hard: (25 + 144) ÷ 13 × 8

Brackets first: 25 + 144 = 169.

÷ and × go from left to right: 169 ÷ 13 = 13, then 13 × 8 = 104.

Doing × first would give 169 ÷ 104 ≈ 1.625 — a different, wrong answer.

Common mistakes

  • Adding before multiplying: 2 + 3 × 4 is 2 + 12 = 14, not 20.
  • Doing × before ÷ when they are side by side: they go left to right, so 12 ÷ 3 × 2 = 8, not 2.
  • Reading powers as multiplication: 2³ is 2 × 2 × 2 = 8, not 6.
  • Forgetting brackets around a negative number: −3² means −(3²) = −9, while (−3)² = 9.

Frequently asked questions

What is 30 divided by 5?

6, because 5 × 6 = 30. In fractions, 30/5 simplifies to 6/1 = 6.

What is 13 × 8 (13 times 8)?

104. 10 × 8 = 80 and 3 × 8 = 24, and 80 + 24 = 104.

What is 25 + 144?

169. It is also 13², so √169 = 13 — and 5² + 12² = 13², a Pythagorean triple.

What are 40 times 8 and 8 times 5?

40 × 8 = 320 (4 × 8 = 32, then add the 0) and 8 × 5 = 40.

Can I type × and ÷ or do I need * and /?

Either works: × or * for multiply, ÷ or / for divide. You can also use brackets, ^ for powers, √ for square roots and fractions such as 3/4.

Does it give exact answers?

Yes. Fractions stay exact (1 ÷ 3 = 1/3), and the decimal is shown alongside, marked approximate if it had to be rounded.