What does the term 'denominator' refer to in a fraction?

What does the term 'denominator' refer to in a fraction?

• A. The top number of a fraction.
• B. The numerator.
• C. The total of numerator and denominator.
• D. The bottom number of a fraction.

Answer: (D)

Think about fractions as parts of a whole. The denominator is the bottom number and it tells how many equal parts the whole is divided into. The numerator is the top number and tells how many of those parts we are using. For example, in 3/8, the denominator is 8, meaning the whole is split into 8 equal parts, and we are taking 3 of those parts. The bottom number is the denominator, by definition—the top number is the numerator, and the sum of the two isn’t what defines a fraction. So the term 'denominator' refers to the bottom number of a fraction.

Think about fractions as parts of a whole. The denominator is the bottom number and it tells how many equal parts the whole is divided into. The numerator is the top number and tells how many of those parts we are using.

For example, in 3/8, the denominator is 8, meaning the whole is split into 8 equal parts, and we are taking 3 of those parts. The bottom number is the denominator, by definition—the top number is the numerator, and the sum of the two isn’t what defines a fraction.

So the term 'denominator' refers to the bottom number of a fraction.