Definition:Fraction/Numerator

Definition

Let $\dfrac a b$ be a fraction.

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

Examples

Example: $\frac 3 4$

In thefraction $\dfrac 3 4$, the numerator is the number $3$.

Also see

• Definition:Dividend
• Definition:Denominator

• Results about numerators can be found here.

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: $3$
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): fraction
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): numerator
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): fraction
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): numerator
• 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