Fraction \Frac"tion\, n. [F. fraction, L. fractio a breaking,
fr. frangere, fractum, to break. See Break.]
1. The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially
by violence. [Obs.]
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Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to
any fraction or breaking up. --Foxe.
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2. A portion; a fragment.
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Some niggard fractions of an hour. --Tennyson.
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3. (Arith. or Alg.) One or more aliquot parts of a unit or
whole number; an expression for a definite portion of a
unit or magnitude.
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Common fraction, or Vulgar fraction, a fraction in which
the number of equal parts into which the integer is
supposed to be divided is indicated by figures or letters,
called the denominator, written below a line, over which
is the numerator, indicating the number of these parts
included in the fraction; as 1/2, one half, 2/5, two
fifths.
Complex fraction, a fraction having a fraction or mixed
number in the numerator or denominator, or in both.
--Davies & Peck.
Compound fraction, a fraction of a fraction; two or more
fractions connected by of.
Continued fraction, Decimal fraction, Partial fraction,
etc. See under Continued, Decimal, Partial, etc.
Improper fraction, a fraction in which the numerator is
greater than the denominator.
Proper fraction, a fraction in which the numerator is less
than the denominator.
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Decimal \Dec"i*mal\, a. [F. d['e]cimal (cf. LL. decimalis), fr.
L. decimus tenth, fr. decem ten. See Ten, and cf. Dime.]
Of or pertaining to decimals; numbered or proceeding by tens;
having a tenfold increase or decrease, each unit being ten
times the unit next smaller; as, decimal notation; a decimal
coinage.
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Decimal arithmetic, the common arithmetic, in which
numeration proceeds by tens.
Decimal fraction, a fraction in which the denominator is
some power of 10, as 2/10, [frac25x100], and is usually
not expressed, but is signified by a point placed at the
left hand of the numerator, as .2, .25.
Decimal point, a dot or full stop at the left of a decimal
fraction. The figures at the left of the point represent
units or whole numbers, as 1.05.
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