The History of Fractions

The word “fraction” comes from the Latin word “fractio,” which means “a breaking.” It reflects the idea of breaking a whole into smaller parts, which is what a fraction represents. In the mathematical sense, a fraction is a number that represents a part of a whole, where the numerator represents the part and the denominator represents the whole. For example, 1/2 represents half of a whole, and 3/4 represents three-quarters of a whole. The use of the word “fraction” to describe a part of a whole has been recorded in English since the 14th century, and it has remained in common use in mathematics and other fields…