Fractions

In mathematics, a fraction is a way of expressing a quantity based on an amount that is divided into a number of equal-sized parts. For example, each part of a cake split into four equal parts is called a quarter (and represented numerically as ¼); two quarters is one half (½) of the cake, and eight quarters would make two cakes.

Mathematically, a fraction is a quotient of numbers, like ¾ (which is 3 divided by 4). More generally, a fraction is an element of a field of fractions.

In our cake example above, where a quarter is represented numerically as ¼, the bottom number, called the denominator, is the total number of equal parts making up the cake as a whole, and the top number, called the numerator, is the number of these parts we have. For example, the fraction ¾ represents three quarters.

The numerator and denominator may be separated by a slanting line called a solidus or slash, for example ¾, or may be written above and below a horizontal line called a vinculum: this is what fractions will look like in most math curriculum.

The numerator and denominator are the "terms" of the fraction. The word "numerator" is related to the word "enumerate," meaning to "tell how many"; thus the numerator tells us how many parts we have in the indicated fraction. To denominate means to "give a name" or "tell what kind"; thus the denominator tells us what kind of parts we have (halves, thirds, fourths, etc.). Note that because it is impossible to divide something into zero equal parts, zero can never be the denominator of a fraction.

Additional information:

  • Excerpted from the Wikipedia article.
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32 Items found Print
Advanced Fractions
Straight Forward Math Series
by S. Harold Collins
from Garlic Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Fractions (Location: MATR-FRA)
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Workbook from Kumon Publishing
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Decimals & Fractions Grade 5
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Fabulous Fractions
from John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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in Fractions (Location: MATR-FRA)
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Fraction Wrap-Up Keys
from Learning Wrap-Ups
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in Fractions (Location: MATR-FRA)
Fractions
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by S. Harold Collins
from Garlic Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Fractions (Location: MATR-FRA)
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from Classical Conversations
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for 6th grade
in Kumon Math Skills (Location: MAT-KUM)
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Hershey's Chocolate Milk Fractions Book & Tiles
by Jerry Pallotta & Rob Bolster
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-4th grade
in Fractions (Location: MATR-FRA)
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Key to Fractions 1
by Steven Rasmussen
from Key Curriculum Press
for 4th-8th grade
in Fractions (Location: MATR-FRA)
Key to Fractions 1-4 - Answers and Notes
by Steven Rasmussen
from Key Curriculum Press
for 4th-8th grade
in Fractions (Location: MATR-FRA)
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Key to Fractions 2
by Steven Rasmussen
from Key Curriculum Press
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in Key-to Math (Location: MAT-KEY)
Key to Fractions 3
by Steven Rasmussen
from Key Curriculum Press
for 4th-8th grade
in Key-to Math (Location: MAT-KEY)
Key to Fractions 4
by Steven Rasmussen
from Key Curriculum Press
for 4th-8th grade
in Key-to Math (Location: MAT-KEY)
Life of Fred: Fractions
Life of Fred
by Stanley Schmidt
from Polka Dot Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Life of Fred Math (Location: MAT-FRED)
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Math 1 Flipper
from Christopher Lee Publications
for 3rd-5th grade
in Math Flippers (Location: MATR-FLIP)
Math 2 Flipper
from Christopher Lee Publications
for 6th-12th grade
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Math Boosters: Fractions
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in Kumon Math Skills (Location: MAT-KUM)
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from Critical Thinking Books
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in Critical Thinking Math (Location: MAT-CTP)
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from Math-U-See
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in Math-U-See Old Editions (Location: OMAT-MUS)
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from Learning Wrap-Ups
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from Creative Publications
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in Fractions (Location: MATR-FRA)
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from Critical Thinking Books
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in Critical Thinking Math (Location: MAT-CTP)
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by Robert Femiano
from Critical Thinking Books
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in Critical Thinking Math (Location: MAT-CTP)
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