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Glite Dictionary
decimal fraction

decimal fraction

3.0
A number that shows parts of a whole and uses a point with digits after it
  • noun
  • /ˈdɛsɪməl ˈfrækʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fracción decimal
  • In mathematics, a decimal fraction is written using a decimal point to separate the whole number from the fractional part.

Examples

  • Where more precise times that include decimal fractions of seconds are being expressed, colons can be used as the separator, as recommended by ISO 8601:2000.

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  • To express the ratio as a decimal fraction, divide the numerator by the denominator.

  • In everyday calculations, you can convert a fraction to a decimal fraction for easier addition and subtraction.

Synonyms

decimal
vsdecimal fraction
5 1.6

A number written with a point to show parts of a whole

refers specifically to a fraction whose denominator is a power of ten

Surface Forms

decimal fraction singular
decimal fractions plural

Morphology

decimal + fraction

The meaning is directly compositional: 'decimal' (based on ten) modifies 'fraction' (a part of a whole), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a fraction expressed in base ten or with a denominator that is a power of ten. This is a productive, cross-linguistically common mathematical construction and therefore immediately understandable to B1 learners.

Etymology

Decimal fraction The term decimal fraction links decimal (which means 'ten') and fraction (a 'part'). It is a part made by dividing by 10, 100, 1000, so numbers with digits after the point, like 0.25 = 25/100, are called 'decimal fractions'.