Meaning & use
compound fraction
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablemathematicstechnical
A fraction in which the numerator, the denominator, or both are themselves fractions.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a compound fraction' or 'compound fractions'. It is often written as a complex fraction.
Patterns
- a compound fraction of something
- simplify a compound fraction
The teacher asked us to simplify the compound fraction (3/4) / (2/5).
A compound fraction like 1/2 over 3/4 can be rewritten as a simple fraction.
To divide by a compound fraction, multiply by its reciprocal.
Word forms
| plural | compound fractions |
|---|
Common combinations
- simplify a compound fraction
- We learned how to simplify a compound fraction step by step.
- a compound fraction of something
- The problem involved a compound fraction of a quantity.
- rewrite as a simple fraction
- You can rewrite the compound fraction as a simple fraction.
Synonyms and how they differ
- complex fraction
- This is the more common term in higher-level math; 'compound fraction' is often used in school contexts.
- fraction of a fraction
- This is a plain-English description, not a technical term, and is easier for everyday use.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: compound fraction or mixed number?
compound fraction vs mixed number
A mixed number has a whole number and a fraction, like 2 1/2, while a compound fraction has fractions in the numerator or denominator.
Practice
Which of these is an example of a compound fraction?
Choose one answer.
A compound fraction has a fraction in the numerator, the denominator, or both. (1/2)/(3/4) fits this. 3/4 is a simple fraction, 2 1/2 is a mixed number, and 0.75 is a decimal.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “compound fraction”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.