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Thread: "How to read fractions

  1. #1
    chinst Guest

    Default "How to read fractions

    How does one read fractions? Example 3/8. Can it be read as "three over eight" besides reading it as "three eights"? If it is possible, then how does one read fractions such as 13/18, 24/26, etc?

    Thank you very much

  2. #2
    tedtmc is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: "How to read fractions

    13/18 is 13 'one-eighteenths', which thirteen eighteenths
    24/26 is twenty-four twenty-sixths

    not a teacher

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    magimagicE is offline Member
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    Default Re: "How to read fractions

    In mathematical speak, "three over eight" is a valid term.

    So are:

    13/18 -------> Thirteen over eighteen;

    24/26 -------> Twenty-four over twenty-six.


    In mathematical speak and in everyday usage, these are also valid terms:

    3/8 --------> Three eighths

    13/18 -------> Thirteen eighteenths

    24/26 --------> Twenty-four twenty-sixths


    In American English:

    3 1/4 --------> Three and one quarter

    1 1/2 --------> One and one half


    Note the differences in British English:

    3 1/4 --------> Three and a quarter

    1 1/2 --------> One and a half


    Whichever system you choose to use, just be consistent.

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    Default Re: "How to read fractions

    I'd say "one and a quarter" or "one and a half" and I'm an American.
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.

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    Default Re: "How to read fractions

    Quote Originally Posted by chinst View Post
    How does one read fractions? Example 3/8. Can it be read as "three over eight" besides reading it as "three eights"? If it is possible, then how does one read fractions such as 13/18, 24/26, etc?

    Thank you very much
    And, I believe, in maths, you always go down to the lowest common denominator so 24/26 would actually be 12/13 (twelve thirteenths).

  6. #6
    Barb_D's Avatar
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    Default Re: "How to read fractions

    But that's not how you would pronounce it. That's like saying "three score" is pronounced "sixty."
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.

  7. #7
    emsr2d2's Avatar
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    Default Re: "How to read fractions

    Quote Originally Posted by Barb_D View Post
    But that's not how you would pronounce it. That's like saying "three score" is pronounced "sixty."
    I realise that, but someone had already explained how to pronounce "twenty-four twenty-sixths". As 24/26 should never appear as a mathematical fraction, I was simply trying to give another example.

    As a score in a test, 24/26 would be seen and would be said (in the UK at least) as "twenty-four out of twenty-six".

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    Abstract Idea is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: "How to read fractions

    Quote Originally Posted by emsr2d2 View Post
    As 24/26 should never appear as a mathematical fraction, I was simply trying to give another example.
    What about the equation " 24/26 = 12/13 ", couldn't it live peacefully in the Wonderful World of Math? How do you read it?

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    Default Re: "How to read fractions

    Twenty-four twenty-sixths equals twelve thirteenths.
    mara_ce likes this.
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.

  10. #10
    Jack8rkin is offline Member
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    Default Re: "How to read fractions

    How about such fraction: 47/51? How would you read it?

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