Definition:Rational Number/Fraction/Numerator
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Definition
Let $\dfrac a b$ be a fraction.
The term $a$ is known as the numerator of $\dfrac a b$.
Also see
Linguistic Note
The term numerator reflects the fact that it numerates, that is, counts the objects defined in the denominator.
Thus, in the fraction $\dfrac 3 4$, it states that there are $3$ of the specified 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): fraction
- 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): numerator