What is the bar in a fraction called?
A vinculum is a horizontal line used in mathematical notation for a specific purpose. It may be placed as an overline (or underline) over (or under) a mathematical expression to indicate that the expression is to be considered grouped together. It is also the horizontal line used to separate the numerator and denominator in a fraction also called a "fraction bar".
Historically, vincula were extensively used to group items together, especially in written mathematics, but in modern mathematics, this function has almost entirely been replaced by the use of parentheses.
"Vinculum" is Latin for "bond", "fetter", "chain", or "tie", which is suggestive of some of the uses of the symbol.
More Info:
en.wikipedia.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
13 Comments
Jas Newman
Does the line have to be horizontal? 1/3 of us want to know.
Pat Salloum
When I learned division when I was 8, we weren't taught the term.
Howard Groopman
All the years I studied math, and I was a good student, I don't recall ever hearing that term. I had 2 choices here and chose correctly.
dmarkc
I never knew this. Thanks, Zain.
fdeisner
Lynne Zeman,
Me three. 😁
Ken Putnam
Lawanta ,
No it doesn't
Lawanta
Louella Wilson, the line in the fraction signifies the same function.
seane
Dario Gritti, I believe the thumbs downs are mainly computer generated. I've seen them on peoples comments that no one would have ever given a thumbs down too. Just my observation.
Lynne Zeman
Johnny Rock, exactly what I did.
Louella Wilson
lls, a divisor is a number by which another number is to be divided
lls
...gee, I thought it was considered the divisor: invert the divisor and multiply.
Richard G Schwartz
Blue Saturday.
Johnny Rock
This one was easy due to the fact that both the numerator and denominator were the top and bottom numbers in a fraction leaving a simple Double Chance hint to solve it.