
In elementary algebra, a vulgar fraction (or common fraction) consists of one integer division (mathematics) a non-zero integer. The fraction "three divided by four" or "three over four" or "three fourths" or "three quarters" can be written as : or 3 ÷ 4 or 3/4 or 3⁄4 In this article, we will use the last of these notations. The first quantity, the "number on top" of the fraction, is called the numerator, and the other number is called the denominator. The denominator can never be 0 (number) because division by zero is not defined. All vulgar fractions are rational numbers and, by definition, all rational numbers can be expressed as vulgar fractions, although the representation is not unique. (For example, 3⁄4 = 6⁄8.) Consider this article a gentle introduction to fractions: for a more theoretical treatment see rational numbers. There is also a fraction (mathematics) article which can serve as a guide to different kinds of fractions. ==Introduction== To understand the meaning of any vulgar fraction consider some unit (e.g. a cake) divided into an equal number of parts (or slices). The number of slices into which the cake is divided is the denominator. The number of slices in consideration is the numerator. So: Were I to eat 2 slices of a cake divided into 8 equal slices then I would have eaten 2⁄8 (or two eighths) of the cake. Note that had the cake been divided into 4 slices and had I eaten one of those then I would have eaten the same amount of cake as before. Hence, 2⁄8 = 1⁄4. Had I eaten 1 and a half full cakes I would have eaten 12 of the one eighth of a cake slices or 12⁄8. If the cakes been divided into quarters I would have eaten 6⁄4 cakes. :12⁄8 = 6⁄4 = 3⁄2 = (1 + 1⁄2) cakes. == Arithmetic == Several rules for calculation with fractions are useful: ===Cancelling=== If both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction are multiplied or divided by the same non-zero number, then the fraction does not change its value. For instance, 4⁄6 = 2⁄3 and 1⁄''x'' = ''x'' / ''x''2. ===Adding fractions=== To add or subtract two fractions, you first need to change the two fractions so that they have a common denominator, for example the lowest common multiple of the denominators which is called the lowest common denominator; then you can add or subtract the numerators. For instance: :2⁄3 + 1⁄4 = 8⁄12 + 3⁄12 = 11⁄12. ===Multiplying fractions=== To multiply two fractions, multiply the numerators to get the new numerator, and multiply the denominators to get the new denominator. For instance: : 2⁄3 × 1⁄4 = (2×1) / (3×4) = 2⁄12 = 1⁄6. It is helpful to read "2⁄3 × 1⁄4" as "two thirds of one quarter". If I took 2⁄3 of a cake and gave 1⁄4 of that part away, the part I gave away would be equivalent to 1⁄6 of a full cake. Reciprocal of fractions. To take the reciprocal of fractions, simply swap the numerator and the denominator, so the reciprocal of 2⁄3 is 3⁄2. If the numerator is 1, i.e. the fraction is a unit fraction, then the reciprocal is an integer, namely the denominator, so the reciprocal of 1⁄3 is 3⁄1 or 3. Dividing fractions. As dividing is the same as multiplying by the reciprocal, to divide one fraction by another one, flip numerator and denominator of the second one, and then multiply the two fractions. For instance: : (2⁄3) / (4⁄5) = 2⁄3 × 5⁄4 = (2×5) / (3×4) = 10⁄12 = 5⁄6. == Other ways of writing fractions == ===Improper fraction=== Any rational number can be written as a vulgar fraction. If a fraction is greater than 1—i.e., the numerator is greater than the denominator—then it is known as an improper fraction. An example is 11⁄4, which is a little less than 3. ===Mixed number=== A fraction greater than 1 can also be written as a mixed number, i.e. as the sum of a positive integer and a fraction between 0 and 1 (sometimes called a proper fraction). For example :23⁄4 = 11⁄4. In general: : This notation has the advantage that one can readily tell the approximate size of the fraction; it is rather dangerous however, because 23⁄4 risks being understood as 2×3⁄4, which would equal 3⁄2, rather than 2+3⁄4 . To indicate multiplication between an integer and a fraction, the fraction is instead put inside parentheses: 2 (3⁄4) = 2 × 3⁄4. ===Decimal notation=== Numbers which are not integers can be written as decimals. For example :2.75 = 11⁄4. The mark after the integer is a decimal point, though in many countries it is represented by a comma. If a number is a decimal fraction (i.e. its denominator only has 2 and/or 5 as its prime factors) then it can be written as a finite decimal. If it is rational then it can be written as a recurring decimal, and if it is irrational, then as a non-recurring decimal with an infinite number of digits after the decimal point. == See also == * algebra * elementary algebra * abstract algebra Fractions Elementary arithmetic
what about the verniculum? archaic i know but that the symbol that looks like a radicand for roots is called a verniculum with long division...doesn't it? :I think you mean vinculum (apparently from the Latin for ''chain''). The external link: :http://members.aol.com/jeff570/operation.html :has a list of various historical usages of mathematical symbols; it lists history (and images from historic documents) of both the obelus ("÷") (crossword addicts take notice) and the vinculum, among other approaches to notating division. User:Chas zzz brown 01:36 Oct 21, 2002 (UTC) ----- The plan for this article is to move most of the current text into an ==arithmetic== section and to bring over from the fraction (mathematics) disambiguation page all the sub-categories of vulgar fraction. User:Psb777 23:53, 20 Feb 2004 (UTC) == Do vulgar fractions yell profanities? == Okay, sounds like a silly question, but exactly ''why'' is it called a "vulgar" fraction? (Maybe it's just my crazy imagination, but it makes me think of a numerator and denominator yelling vulgarities at each other. Or perhaps insulting someone that he's only ½ the man he used to be.) –User:Radiojon 19:51, 2004 Jul 12 (UTC) :'vulgar' is Latin for 'common'; the term just means common fraction, which is a synonym. -User:R. S. Shaw 19:13, 16 Jun 2005 (UTC)
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
Words begining with Vulgar_fraction:
Vulgar_fraction
Vulgar_fraction
Vulgar fraction
In elementary algebra, a vulgar fraction (or common fraction) consists of one integer division (mathematics) a non-zero integer. The fraction "three divided by four" or "three over four" or "three fourths" or "three quarters" can be written as : or 3 ÷ 4 or 3/4 or 3⁄4 In this article, we will use the last of these notations. The first quantity, the "number on top" of the fraction, is called the numerator, and the other number is called the denominator. The denominator can never be 0 (number) because division by zero is not defined. All vulgar fractions are rational numbers and, by definition, all rational numbers can be expressed as vulgar fractions, although the representation is not unique. (For example, 3⁄4 = 6⁄8.) Consider this article a gentle introduction to fractions: for a more theoretical treatment see rational numbers. There is also a fraction (mathematics) article which can serve as a guide to different kinds of fractions. ==Introduction== To understand the meaning of any vulgar fraction consider some unit (e.g. a cake) divided into an equal number of parts (or slices). The number of slices into which the cake is divided is the denominator. The number of slices in consideration is the numerator. So: Were I to eat 2 slices of a cake divided into 8 equal slices then I would have eaten 2⁄8 (or two eighths) of the cake. Note that had the cake been divided into 4 slices and had I eaten one of those then I would have eaten the same amount of cake as before. Hence, 2⁄8 = 1⁄4. Had I eaten 1 and a half full cakes I would have eaten 12 of the one eighth of a cake slices or 12⁄8. If the cakes been divided into quarters I would have eaten 6⁄4 cakes. :12⁄8 = 6⁄4 = 3⁄2 = (1 + 1⁄2) cakes. == Arithmetic == Several rules for calculation with fractions are useful: ===Cancelling=== If both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction are multiplied or divided by the same non-zero number, then the fraction does not change its value. For instance, 4⁄6 = 2⁄3 and 1⁄''x'' = ''x'' / ''x''2. ===Adding fractions=== To add or subtract two fractions, you first need to change the two fractions so that they have a common denominator, for example the lowest common multiple of the denominators which is called the lowest common denominator; then you can add or subtract the numerators. For instance: :2⁄3 + 1⁄4 = 8⁄12 + 3⁄12 = 11⁄12. ===Multiplying fractions=== To multiply two fractions, multiply the numerators to get the new numerator, and multiply the denominators to get the new denominator. For instance: : 2⁄3 × 1⁄4 = (2×1) / (3×4) = 2⁄12 = 1⁄6. It is helpful to read "2⁄3 × 1⁄4" as "two thirds of one quarter". If I took 2⁄3 of a cake and gave 1⁄4 of that part away, the part I gave away would be equivalent to 1⁄6 of a full cake. Reciprocal of fractions. To take the reciprocal of fractions, simply swap the numerator and the denominator, so the reciprocal of 2⁄3 is 3⁄2. If the numerator is 1, i.e. the fraction is a unit fraction, then the reciprocal is an integer, namely the denominator, so the reciprocal of 1⁄3 is 3⁄1 or 3. Dividing fractions. As dividing is the same as multiplying by the reciprocal, to divide one fraction by another one, flip numerator and denominator of the second one, and then multiply the two fractions. For instance: : (2⁄3) / (4⁄5) = 2⁄3 × 5⁄4 = (2×5) / (3×4) = 10⁄12 = 5⁄6. == Other ways of writing fractions == ===Improper fraction=== Any rational number can be written as a vulgar fraction. If a fraction is greater than 1—i.e., the numerator is greater than the denominator—then it is known as an improper fraction. An example is 11⁄4, which is a little less than 3. ===Mixed number=== A fraction greater than 1 can also be written as a mixed number, i.e. as the sum of a positive integer and a fraction between 0 and 1 (sometimes called a proper fraction). For example :23⁄4 = 11⁄4. In general: : This notation has the advantage that one can readily tell the approximate size of the fraction; it is rather dangerous however, because 23⁄4 risks being understood as 2×3⁄4, which would equal 3⁄2, rather than 2+3⁄4 . To indicate multiplication between an integer and a fraction, the fraction is instead put inside parentheses: 2 (3⁄4) = 2 × 3⁄4. ===Decimal notation=== Numbers which are not integers can be written as decimals. For example :2.75 = 11⁄4. The mark after the integer is a decimal point, though in many countries it is represented by a comma. If a number is a decimal fraction (i.e. its denominator only has 2 and/or 5 as its prime factors) then it can be written as a finite decimal. If it is rational then it can be written as a recurring decimal, and if it is irrational, then as a non-recurring decimal with an infinite number of digits after the decimal point. == See also == * algebra * elementary algebra * abstract algebra Fractions Elementary arithmetic
Vulgar fraction
what about the verniculum? archaic i know but that the symbol that looks like a radicand for roots is called a verniculum with long division...doesn't it? :I think you mean vinculum (apparently from the Latin for ''chain''). The external link: :http://members.aol.com/jeff570/operation.html :has a list of various historical usages of mathematical symbols; it lists history (and images from historic documents) of both the obelus ("÷") (crossword addicts take notice) and the vinculum, among other approaches to notating division. User:Chas zzz brown 01:36 Oct 21, 2002 (UTC) ----- The plan for this article is to move most of the current text into an ==arithmetic== section and to bring over from the fraction (mathematics) disambiguation page all the sub-categories of vulgar fraction. User:Psb777 23:53, 20 Feb 2004 (UTC) == Do vulgar fractions yell profanities? == Okay, sounds like a silly question, but exactly ''why'' is it called a "vulgar" fraction? (Maybe it's just my crazy imagination, but it makes me think of a numerator and denominator yelling vulgarities at each other. Or perhaps insulting someone that he's only ½ the man he used to be.) –User:Radiojon 19:51, 2004 Jul 12 (UTC) :'vulgar' is Latin for 'common'; the term just means common fraction, which is a synonym. -User:R. S. Shaw 19:13, 16 Jun 2005 (UTC)
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
V
Words begining with Vulgar_fraction:
Vulgar_fraction
Vulgar_fraction
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