A fraction (from Latin: fractus, "broken") represents a part of
a whole or, more generally, any number of equal parts. When
spoken in everyday English, a fraction describes how many parts
of a certain size there are, for example, one-half, eight-
fifths, three-quarters. A common, vulgar, or simple fraction
(for example , , and 3/17) consists of an integer numerator,
displayed above a line (or before a slash), and a non-zero
integer denominator, displayed below (or after) that line. The
numerator represents a number of equal parts and the denominator
indicates how many of those parts make up a whole. For example,
in the fraction 3/4, the numerator, 3, tells us that the
fraction represents 3 equal parts, and the denominator, 4, tells
us that 4 parts make up a whole. The picture to the right
illustrates or 3/4 of a cake. Numerators and denominators are
also used in fractions that are not simple, including compound
fractions, complex fractions, and mixed numerals. Fractional
numbers can also be written without usi