Fraction is the name for part of something as distinct from the whole of it. The word itself means a small amount as, for example, when we ask someone to "move over a fraction." We mean them to move over part of the way, not all the way.

Fractional parts such as half, quarter, eighth, and so on form a part of daily language usage. When, for example, we refer to "half an hour," "a quarter pound of coffee," or "an eighth of a pie." In arithmetic, the word fraction has a more precise meaning since a fraction is a numeral. Most fractions are called common fractions to distinguish them from special kinds of fractions like decimal fractions.

A fraction is written as two stacked numerals with a line between them, e.g., ¾, which refers to three-fourths (also called three quarters). All fractions are read this way...