What Are Fractional Number Components?
A Fraction represents a part of a whole or, any
number of equal parts. A simple fraction (example: 1/2) has
two parts:
- The Numerator of a fraction is the number above the slash: 1/2.
- The Denominator of a fraction is the number below the slash: 1/2.
The numerator represents a number of equal parts, and the denominator,
which cannot be zero, indicates how many of those parts make up the whole. Example,
think of a pizza cut into eight slices (8 is the denominator) and five slices (5 is the numerator) have been eaten. So let's
show these facts as fractions:
- One whole pizza is represented as one or as the fraction
8/8. This means the pizza is cut into eight slices but none
of the slices have been eaten so far.
- Now five slices of the pizza with eight slices have been
eaten. Shown as a fraction 5/8 or 5 of 8 slices have been
eaten.
- So how much of the pizza remains? Well, we started with eight
slices and five have been eaten: 8/8 - 5/8
= 3/8. So 3 of 8 slices of pizza are left.
One very important fact about fractions: the denominator can
never be zero! For example the fractions 1/0, -4/0,
and 0/0 are all considered undefined i.e. they make no sense
in mathematics.
Recommended reading: Proper Fractions and Improper Fractions.
