Definition:Rational Number/Fraction/Denominator

Definition

Let $\dfrac a b$ be a fraction.

The term $b$ is known as the denominator of $\dfrac a b$.

Also see

• Definition:Division/Divisor

• Definition:Numerator

Linguistic Note

The term denominator derives from the word denomination which, in this context, means grouping of elements of the same kind.

Thus, in the fraction $\dfrac 3 4$, it states that the objects of the same kind in question (of which the numerator specifies that there are $3$) are quarters.

Sources

• 1974: Murray R. Spiegel: Theory and Problems of Advanced Calculus (SI ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Numbers: Real Numbers: $3$
• 1981: Murray R. Spiegel: Theory and Problems of Complex Variables (SI ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Complex Numbers: The Real Number System: $3$
• 2008: Ian Stewart: Taming the Infinite ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $3$: Notations and Numbers: The Dark Ages?
• 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): denominator
• 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): fraction