<p>The <code>"</code> in <a href="https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=2-11%2F16%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>2-11/16"</code></a> denotes inches. The number of inches is written using a common notation for representing improper fractions using only ASCII characters. The represented fraction is</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7nfHP.png" alt="2-11/16"></p>

<p><code>2-11/16"</code> means "two inches and eleven-sixteenth", so the number of inches is actually 2+(11/16) = (2*16+11)/16 = 2.6875, or about 68.3 mm.</p>

<p>Similarly, 3-13/16" means 3.8125 inches, or about 96.8 mm.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-21T12:48:33.677Z
2015-04-21T15:13:57.483Z
2015-04-21T15:13:57.483Z
ikegami
<p>2-11/16" x 3-13/16" means 2 and 11/16 inches by 3 and 13/16 inches, or 2.6875 inches x 3.8125 inches. This works out to be about 68.2625mm x 96.8375mm. For reference Magic cards are about 63mm x 88mm.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-22T07:32:12.920Z
Ok thanks. It's really not an intuitive notation! A "-" with the meaning of a "+"...
Zach
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-22T12:42:50.787Z
@Zach In this context the '-' is just being used as a separator, so you don't think it is 211/16. It isn't meant to be a mathematical symbol.
diego
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-22T12:58:00.483Z
I understand. I find it a poor choice of separator
Zach
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-21T12:49:15.383Z
2015-04-21T14:59:35.403Z
2015-04-21T14:59:35.403Z
diego
<p>I am looking for dividers to order a card collection. I find some on a website but I really don't understand the dimensions: 2-11/16" x 3-13/16".</p>

<p>Is it (2*11/16)" x (3*13/16)"? It would be rather complicated...</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your help.   </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-21T11:37:44.837Z
Given the size of a playing card, I would imagine that *2-11/16"* means *two and eleven sixteenths of an inch*, i.e. *2.6875"*. How much simpler things would be if everyone switched to the metric system...!
AndyT
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-21T12:58:05.553Z
@AndyT, I don't see how 68-21/80 mm would be any better, or did you mean "decimal notation" when you said "metric"?
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-21T14:25:44.037Z
@ikegami - yes and no. I do mean that things would be simpler in decimal notation. But using sixteenths of an inch is very common in imperial (or "US units"). Because the metric system is based on powers, it lends itself incredibly well to decimal notation.
AndyT
<playing-cards>
What is this notation for dimensions: 2-11/16" x 3-13/16"
Zach
# What is this notation for dimensions: 2-11/16" x 3-13/16"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-04-21)

I am looking for dividers to order a card collection. I find some on a website but I really don't understand the dimensions: 2-11/16" x 3-13/16".

Is it (2\*11/16)" x (3\*13/16)"? It would be rather complicated...

Thanks in advance for your help.

**Tags:** playing-cards

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Given the size of a playing card, I would imagine that *2-11/16"* means *two and eleven sixteenths of an inch*, i.e. *2.6875"*. How much simpler things would be if everyone switched to the metric system...!  
> **username_2**: @username_1, I don't see how 68-21/80 mm would be any better, or did you mean "decimal notation" when you said "metric"?  
> **username_1**: @username_2 - yes and no. I do mean that things would be simpler in decimal notation. But using sixteenths of an inch is very common in imperial (or "US units"). Because the metric system is based on powers, it lends itself incredibly well to decimal notation.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-04-21. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The `"` in [`2-11/16"`](https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=2-11%2F16%22) denotes inches. The number of inches is written using a common notation for representing improper fractions using only ASCII characters. The represented fraction is

![2-11/16](https://i.sstatic.net/7nfHP.png)

`2-11/16"` means "two inches and eleven-sixteenth", so the number of inches is actually 2+(11/16) = (2\*16+11)/16 = 2.6875, or about 68.3 mm.

Similarly, 3-13/16" means 3.8125 inches, or about 96.8 mm.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-04-21. Score: 3

2-11/16" x 3-13/16" means 2 and 11/16 inches by 3 and 13/16 inches, or 2.6875 inches x 3.8125 inches. This works out to be about 68.2625mm x 96.8375mm. For reference Magic cards are about 63mm x 88mm.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Ok thanks. It's really not an intuitive notation! A "-" with the meaning of a "+"...  
> **username_3**: @username_0 In this context the '-' is just being used as a separator, so you don't think it is 211/16. It isn't meant to be a mathematical symbol.  
> **username_0**: I understand. I find it a poor choice of separator  

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