Numerator

If you are here, it means you have to recollect about fractions.

Let you have a fraction a ⁄ b, where "a", "b" are numbers and "b" ≠ 0.

Now, what can you see above the fraction line?

Sure, it's the number "a".

So, this time you can say "a" is a numerator of the fraction a ⁄ b. I.e., the number standing above the fraction line is called a numerator.

Example:

3 ⁄ 5, (3 - numerator);
7 ⁄ 2, (7- numerator);
11 ⁄ 11, (11- numerator).

By the way, the number standing under the fraction line is called a denominator.

Example:

20 ⁄ 31, (20 - numerator, 31 - denominator).

It's interesting

You may compare two or more fractions, if they have the same denominators.

Example:

1 ⁄ 7 < 3 ⁄ 7 < 8 ⁄ 7 < 11 ⁄ 7

This time, that fraction is less than another one , which has the least numerator. But, on the other hand, if some fractions have the same numerators, it's easy to compare them, too.

Example:

6 ⁄ 11 < 6 ⁄ 7 < 6 ⁄ 1

This time, the greatest fraction has the least denominator. So, if you want to compare two or more fractions , you have to change them into equal ones with the same denominators or the same numerators. Read more about fractions and you'll know how numerators and denominators can help you to add, divide, multiply fractions.

Don't forget:

Any fraction is a number, it has its own place on the number scale, but numerators and denominators are only fractions' parts.