Decimal fraction A fraction written as a decimal, like 3/4 written as 0.75 and 5/8 written as 0.625
Denominator The number below the fraction bar; indicates the number of equivalent pieces or sets into which something is divided.
Fraction A way of representing part of a whole set. A fraction is one or more parts of something split into equal parts; fractions are made up of a numerator (top number) and denominator (bottom number).
Fraction families Sets of fractions having denominators that are multiples of a single number. For example, halves, fourths, eighths and sixteenths are a family.
Improper fraction A fraction in which the numerator is equal to or greater than the denominator.
Mixed number A number expressed as the sum of an integer and a proper fraction; having a whole part and a fractional part.
Numerator The number above the line in a fraction; indicates the number of equivalent parts being considered.
Proper fraction A fraction in which the numerator is less than the denominator.
Fractions are everywhere, from recipe instructions to business reports. Fractions can be used to indicate parts of a thing or proportions of a quantity. Fractions don't have be small - 'Improper fractions' are larger than, or equal to, one.
Fractions can be difficult, and scary, but we've made them a breeze in Maths-Whizz with our animated lessons and interactive dictionary.
Click the image at right to load some sample fractions games, or check out some fractions dictionary terms at left.
An object lesson in the hidden uses of numeracy - preventing minor miscarriages of justice! As Halfway There notes, in 2008 a judge in Portugal increased a plaintiff's punishment, when he intended to decrease it, thanks to some awful maths.
Pop quiz - what's one half divided by one quarter? Stuck? OK, it's 2. "What?" I hear you cry, "But that doesn't make sense. We've divided something small by another small thing, that should make an even smaller thing, surely." And, of course, you'd be wrong.
The excellent Steven Strogatz, writing a series of online-only articles about maths for the New York Times, has just posted his latest piece. It’s about that hairy beast of mathematics – division! Taking a broad and accessible view of the problems of fractional quantities and how much we struggle with them, Strogatz weaves in the Daniel [...]
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