It’s possible you’ll know your numerators out of your denominators, your equal fractions out of your improper ones, however listed below are some lesser recognized info about these beautiful mathematical creatures.
1.
The phrase Fraction comes from the Latin phrase fractio which suggests ‘to interrupt’.
2.
The road that separates the numerator and the denominator known as a vinculum, which can also be the phrase used to explain ‘a connecting band of tissue, akin to that attaching a flexor tendon to the bone of a finger or toe’. A truth actually at your fingertips.
3.
You possibly can write the fractions in a single record. Right here’s how you can do it with all of the constructive fractions:
4.
Some numbers can’t be expressed as a fraction. π, √2 and the golden ratio are examples. They’re referred to as ‘irrational’.
5.
The decimal growth of a fraction both ends or retains repeating. For instance, 1/4 = 0.25 and 1/7 = 0.142857142857142857… and this goes on ceaselessly and ever. The decimal growth of an irrational quantity goes on ceaselessly however by no means repeats!
6.
The traditional Greek mathematician Pythagoras (you understand the one – lengthy beard, liked triangles) didn’t imagine irrational numbers may exist. For him and his ‘brotherhood’, the universe was dominated by numbers. Fractions are good and orderly. The concept that a decimal growth can go on ceaselessly with out repeating was blasphemy. Legend has it that when one among Pythagoras’ disciples found that √2 can’t be written as a fraction, the brotherhood drowned him to bury the horrific reality. Fractions actually will be deadly.
7.
These ‘irrationals’ could appear a uncommon breed however right here’s a very gorgeous truth: if you happen to dropped a pin randomly onto the quantity line, it will virtually definitely land on an irrational. It’s these beautiful fractions which are uncommon compared!
8.
The traditional Egyptians solely ever used unit fractions – that’s, fractions of the shape 1/n. They by no means conceived of two/5 as a fraction, for instance, and would as a substitute write it as ½ + ⅙. They did all their calculations (which often concerned splitting up sacks of grains and such issues) with unit fractions. It was powerful going.
