Fractions and Decimals

common multiple

common multiple ... An integer is a common multiple of two other integers if it is a multiple of both.

denominator

denominator ... The denominator of a fraction is the number below the line. It represents the number of equal parts into which the whole has been divided.

equivalent

equivalent ... Equivalent fractions are fractions that have the same value.

irrational numbers

irrational numbers ... Any real number that is not a rational number. Examples of irrational numbers are pi and the square root of five.

least common multiple

least common multiple ... The least common multiple of two numbers, abbreviated LCM, is the smallest positive common multiple of those numbers.

numerator

numerator ... The numerator of a fraction is the number that appears above the line. It represents the number of parts of the whole that are being considered.

prime factorization

prime factorization ... The prime factorization of a number is that number written as a product of prime numbers. Every composite number has a prime factorization.

prime number

prime number ... A prime number is a whole number whose only positive factors are 1 and itself. By convention, 1 is not a prime number. The first few prime numbers are: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, and 23. Any integer that is not a prime number is called a composite number.

rational numbers

rational numbers ... A rational number is a number that can be written as a fraction, where the numerator and denominator are integers, and the denominator does not equal zero. Integers, terminating and repeating decimals, mixed numbers, and fractions with an integer numerator and non-zero integer denominator are all rational numbers.

real numbers

real numbers ... The set of real numbers is made up of all the numbers on the number line. Any real number is either a rational or irrational number.

reciprocals

reciprocals ... Two numbers are reciprocals if their product is 1. In general, the reciprocal of any non-zero number n is the fraction one over n, and vice versa.

repeating decimal

repeating decimal ... A repeating decimal is a decimal number with a pattern that endlessly repeats itself.

terminating decimal

terminating decimal ... A terminating decimal is a decimal number with a digit that is farthest to the right; i.e., the decimal eventually ends.