FRACTION

in arithmetic and algebra, a combination of numbers representing one or more parts of a unit or integer: thus, four-fifths (¢) is a fraction formed by dividing a unit into five equal parts, and taking one part four times. Fractions are of two 541 PRACTURE kinds, vulgar and decimal. Vulgar éractions are expre ed by two numbers, one above another, with a line between them. The lower, the denominator, indicates into how many equal parts the unit is divided; and the number above the line, called the mumerator, indicates how many of euch parts are taken. The solidus notation is now frequently used, chiefly for the purpose of avoiding the trouble some proce of ‘justification.’ in printing. In this notation the result of dividing a by b is denoted by a/b. A proper fraction is one whose gum era tor is le than its denominator. An improper fraction is one whose mumerator is not le than its denominator, as 8, §. A simple fraction expre es one or more of the equal parts into which the unit is divided, without reference to any other frac‘tion. A compound fraction expre es ‘one or more of the equal parts into which another fraction or a mixed mumber is divided. Compound fractions have the word of interposed between the simple fractions of which they are composed: thus, 4 of # of 14 is a compound fraction. A complex fraction is one which has a fraction ‘either in its numerator or era aoe, or in each of them; thus, 9° OF GF ‘re complex fractions. See DECIMALS.