Calculating fractions is easy if you have a fraction calculator at hand. Our mobile phones, calculators and computers all have fraction calculators (and many more) and this is can be helpful in situations when you need to calculate fractions quickly. We do not even need to know much – all we have to do is type numbers and the results are there in a second. This saves time and nerves, but it is good to know basic things about fractions.
What are fractions? Why are they called “fractions”? “Fraction” comes from Latin and it means “broken”. It defines a number that is not a whole.
What is a fraction composed of? A fraction consists of a denominator and a numerator. A numerator is the upper number and it tells us about the number of parts. A denominator tells us how many parts are needed to make a whole. If you have 7/8, 7 is a numerator and 8 is a denominator.
Ancient India and ancient Egypt knew about fractions. They followed some simple methods to calculate fractions. Ancient Greeks also used fractions in their calculations. During the middle ages, fractions have also been widely used. The modern type of fractions (as we know it today) has been found in 12th century.