Meaning & use
complex fraction
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Meaning
nouncountablemathematics
A fraction in which the numerator, the denominator, or both are themselves fractions.
Grammar: Countable: 'a complex fraction', 'two complex fractions'.
Patterns
- simplify a complex fraction
- a complex fraction with a fraction in the numerator
The expression (1/2) / (3/4) is a complex fraction.
To simplify a complex fraction, multiply the numerator by the reciprocal of the denominator.
She struggled with the complex fraction on the test until she remembered to invert and multiply.
Word forms
| plural | complex fractions |
|---|
Common combinations
- simplify a complex fraction
- The homework asked us to simplify each complex fraction.
- complex fraction problem
- The complex fraction problem took me ten minutes to solve.
- numerator of a complex fraction
- The numerator of the complex fraction was itself a fraction.
Synonyms and how they differ
- compound fraction
- A less common term for the same concept; 'complex fraction' is the standard term in modern math texts.
Word family
Commonly confused: complex fraction or complex number?
complex fraction vs complex number
A complex number has a real and an imaginary part (like 3 + 4i), while a complex fraction is a fraction containing fractions.
Practice
Which of the following is a complex fraction?
Choose one answer.
A complex fraction has a fraction in the numerator, denominator, or both. (1/2)/(3/4) fits that. 3/4 is a simple fraction; 1/2 + 1/3 is a sum, not a single fraction; 0.75 is a decimal.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “complex fraction”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.