Fracas

[Fr., from fracas ser, to break in pieces, from Lat. fra, i. e. inter, among, and ca are, freq. of quatere, to break with violence.] An uproar; a noisy quarrel; a disturbance; a brawl. Frache, (frash,) n. (Gla - works .) Flat iron pans into which the gla ve els already formed are put, to be placed in the lower oven, over the working-furnace. Fract'ed, a. ( Her .) Broken asunder. Fraction, ( frak's hun ,) n. [Fr., from Lat. fractio , a breaking, from frangere, to break.] State of being broken, especially by violence. "The evident marks of fraction and ruin." - Burnet. -A part, portion, or fragment. "The fractions of her faith." - Shaks. (Arith. and Alg .) A part of any magnitude, integer (whole number), or unit. For example, "two and a fraction" means two units and that part of a unit which can be distinguished, as one-half, two-fifths, and so on. In the fraction 1⁄2 in arithmetic, or in algebra, the figure 1, or a, is the numerator , and 3, or b , is the denominator; and they represent that, if a whole number is divided into three or b parts, only one or a parts are taken. In the addition of fractions, the fractions must be brought down to the same denominator, and their numerators (as expre ed in the value of their new denominator) must then be added, when we have one whole fraction. Thus, if we want to add 1⁄2 and, we must find the least common multiple of 3 and 5, which is found to be 15; then, as 3 goes 5 times into 15, and 5 goes 3 times into the same number, we multiply the numerators of the different fractions by these respective quotients, and then add the two quantities together. Thus, 1 added to will be 5 added 6 fifteenths. The true definition of a fraction may be thus summed up:It is the division of its numerator by its denominator; as seven- eighths are equivalent to the whole number 7 divided by 8, - whence a fraction is obtained. Decimal fractions simplify calculations greatly, as they are constructed on the principle of having one common denominator-a multiple of ten; and thus fractions can be added, subtracted, and divided without repeating over and over the tedious proce of bringing them down to a common denominator. - See ARITHMETIC and DECIMALS. Fractional, a. Belonging to a fraction or broken number. -Comprising a part or the parts of a unit. Fractionary, a. Fractional; relating to, or consisting of fractions.