Numerator and Denominator

Numerator and Denominator Definition - In mathematics, when we study fractions, the numerator and denominator are very important words. In a fraction, the top part is known as the numerator and the bottom part is termed as the denominator.  To understand the concept better, let us draw a circle that is divided into four equal parts, we call them fourths where one of the parts has been shaded. Then we say that one fourth of the circle has been shaded and it is written as ¼, here 4 is the denominator and 1 is the numerator. In Fractions Numerator and Denominator are represented like this Numerator/Denominator.

How do we Define Numerator and Denominator- The denominator describes the number of parts, and the numerator describes the number of parts that are shaded.

How to Remember Numerator and Denominator - Where do these names come from and how do they make sense? Denominator means the name. It is the name for the fraction. Well there is a history to the word denominator, which helps to understand the connections. When we go to the church we might say it has a certain denominations, Luther is one denomination, catholic is another denomination. There is another use of word denomination, when people have bills, a dollar bill or five dollar bill, those are different denominations, or the name that they have.

In school election, we might have noticed, that we nominate somebody to be the president if require. It is a similar word nominate. Nominate means to name somebody to be the president. Or in Spanish, the word nombre that means the name, so nombre, nominate, denomination they all relate to the word denominator. They come from the same land root of denomino.

So denominator is just a name. Whatdoes numerator mean? The number of parts that we talking about. So we have drawn four equal parts, how many shaded parts is the number that represents a numerator. Let us understand it by using an example that is identifying the numerator and denominator in the fraction 3/4.

The numerator is the number on the top in fraction. Here we have ¾ where 3 is on the top so 3 is the numerator and the denominator is the number in the bottom of the fractions. It is 4 here. This fraction represents 3 out of 4 pieces of a pie. The denominator shows total number of pieces of pie and 3 is represented as the part of those 4 pieces.