Division symbol
Mark J. Moore
name but I can't recall. The one I'm referring to is the symbol in long
division with the quotient on top, the divisor outside and the dividend
underneath. (similar to radical sign) Thanks..Mark
Stan Brown
"bar"
--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
http://www.concentric.net/%7eBrownsta/
My reply address is correct as is. The courtesy of providing a correct
reply address is more important to me than time spent deleting spam.
Stan Brown
brow...@concentric.net (Stan Brown) wrote:
>[posted and emailed]
>
>mmo...@ns.gamewood.net (Mark J. Moore) wrote:
>>Could someone tell me the name for the division symbol? I know it has a
>>name but I can't recall. The one I'm referring to is the symbol in long
>>division with the quotient on top, the divisor outside and the dividend
>>underneath. (similar to radical sign) Thanks..Mark
>
>"bar"
As Phil Kenny kindly pointed out in email, my answer was wrong for the
question asked.
For some reason (and I'm unable to come up with a better one than
"stupidity"), I read Mark Moore's very clear description and nevertheless
thought of a standard fraction, with say x^2-3x+2 on top, a horizontal
barm and x-2 on bottom. But that's not what Moore was asking about.
Sorry!
David Tanenbaum
<mmo...@ns.gamewood.net> wrote:
>Could someone tell me the name for the division symbol? I know it has a
>name but I can't recall. The one I'm referring to is the symbol in long
>division with the quotient on top, the divisor outside and the dividend
>underneath. (similar to radical sign) Thanks..Mark
>
The answer to this question has eluded me for at least three years,
Mark. Someone asked me what its name was then and I distinctly recall
having at one time known what it was but could not recall. I then
asked around and searched Mathematical Dictioneries and encyclopoedias
to no avail. I last left the question with the nath graduate division
at Johns Hopkins U several months ago. Each time I send a tickler
there, I get a no progress report. Sooooo, if you do get the answer
from someone, *please* send me an email message.
Nathaniel Silver
>name but I can't recall. The one I'm referring to is the symbol in long
>division with the quotient on top, the divisor outside and the dividend
>underneath. (similar to radical sign) Thanks..Mark
I do not think it has a name.
Nor does it need one
as far as I can tell.
NS
Mich Ravera
>
> Could someone tell me the name for the division symbol? I know it has a
> name but I can't recall. The one I'm referring to is the symbol in long
> division with the quotient on top, the divisor outside and the dividend
> underneath. (similar to radical sign) Thanks..Mark
"Vinculum"
J.Y. Miller
<mra...@edidev.tymnet.com> wrote:
The vinculum is the name of the BAR in a fraction. That is not what Mark
Moore seems to be asking for.
I always thought that when I retired from teaching math, I would move to
MA and open a tavern just outside the campus of M.I.T. I would cater to
the math department and call the place "The Vinculum" (math bar). Just a
dream, I guess. :)
J.Y.
--
J.Y. Miller
jymi...@sheltonbbs.com
Russell Whitenack
J.Y. Miller wrote in message ...
My dictionary defines Vinculum as "a line drawn over two or more terms of a
compound quantity to show that they are to be treated together (e.g., a - x
+ y) where the "x + y" part of the example has a horizontal bar drawn over
it.
So, the vinculum serves the same purpose as parenthesis (e.g. a - (x +
y)), have no relation to fractions or division. Furthermore, another
definition is given as: the bond of matrimony; marriage tie.
This one, has me stumped, I have looked in every dictionary and math
related book I own and have found no reference to the symbol's name. All of
my math books cover algebra and beyond. I expect that a basic mathematics
(addition, subtraction, etc.) book would provide the desired answer but I
don't own one.
Russell W.
David Tanenbaum
<mra...@edidev.tymnet.com> wrote:
>Mark J. Moore wrote:
>>
>> Could someone tell me the name for the division symbol? I know it has a
>> name but I can't recall. The one I'm referring to is the symbol in long
>> division with the quotient on top, the divisor outside and the dividend
>> underneath. (similar to radical sign) Thanks..Mark
>
>"Vinculum"
Mark,
My dictionery defines the term Vinculum as: In Mathematics: A
bar drawn over two or more algebraic terms to indicate that they are
to be treated as a single term.
Sorry, but we're still looking.
dau...@neo.lrun.com
On August 15, Mark J. Moore wrote:
Could someone tell me the name for the division symbol? I know it has
a name but I can't recall. The one I'm referring to is the symbol in
long division ...(snip)
Mich Ravera replied:
"Vinculum"
To which J.Y. Miller replied:
The vinculum is the name of the BAR in a fraction. That is not what Mark
Moore seems to be asking for.
------------snip-------------
To which Russell Whitenack replied:
My dictionary defines Vinculum as "a line drawn over two or more terms of a
compound quantity to show that they are to be treated together
(e.g., a - x + y) where the "x + y" part of the example has a horizontal bar
drawn over it.
So, the vinculum serves the same purpose as parenthesis
(e.g. a - (x + y)), have no relation to fractions or division. Furthermore,
another definition is given as: the bond of matrimony; marriage tie.
This one, has me stumped, I have looked in every dictionary and math
related book I own and have found no reference to the symbol's name. All of
my math books cover algebra and beyond. I expect that a basic mathematics
(addition, subtraction, etc.) book would provide the desired answer but I
don't own one.
Russell W.
Dear all,
First let me say that I don't know the name of the symbol that I simply
call the "long division symbol". I suspect that if it ever had a name,
that name has been lost in antiquity.
As for the terms "vinculum" and "(fraction) bar", J.Y. Miller and Russell
Whitenack are *both* correct. "Vinculum" means "bar", and the
(fraction) bar *is* a grouping symbol (symbol of aggregation), just as
parentheses are a grouping symbol. In the case of the vinculum, it groups
the numerator and the denominator. This grouping is mentioned in the
"order of operations" section of most elementary algebra textbooks.
dauvil
Steve Monson
><mra...@edidev.tymnet.com> wrote:
>>Mark J. Moore wrote:
>>>
>>> Could someone tell me the name for the division symbol? I know it has a
>>> name but I can't recall. The one I'm referring to is the symbol in long
>>> underneath. (similar to radical sign) Thanks..Mark
>>
>>"Vinculum"
>
>bar drawn over two or more algebraic terms to indicate that they are
>to be treated as a single term.
> Sorry, but we're still looking.
I can't believe this thread has gone on so long, with no one having
posted the correct answer:
# # # ##### #### # # # ######
# # # # # # # # # # #
# # # # # # # # # #####
# # # ##### # ### # # # #
# # # # # # # # # # #
## # # # #### #### ###### ######
Steve Monson
--
I have not failed 10,000 times, I have successfully found 10,000 ways
that will not work.
-- Thomas Edison.
math...@hotmail.com
In article <6rh768$2...@euphony.tri.sbc.com>,
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum
Steve Monson
> "Virgule" is the name of "/" (the slash)
Ooops. I finally finished reading the original posting.
Excuse me while I take care of this foot wedged in my mouth.
Steve Monson
--
Guns don't kill people, postal workers do.
riverman
>
> See ye here 's writings:
> > "Virgule" is the name of "/" (the slash)
>
> Ooops. I finally finished reading the original posting.
> Excuse me while I take care of this foot wedged in my mouth.
>
> Steve Monson
> --
>
Is that the slash like in 1/2 or 3/5? And is it the same if it is
written horizontally like in 3 ?
-
5
riverman
> >mmo...@ns.gamewood.net (Mark J. Moore) wrote:
> >>Could someone tell me the name for the division symbol? I know it has a
> >>name but I can't recall. The one I'm referring to is the symbol in long
> >>division with the quotient on top, the divisor outside and the dividend
> >>underneath. (similar to radical sign) Thanks..Mark
> >
I clearly remember my 1st grade teacher said it was called 'the division
sign'.
HTH
:)
math...@hotmail.com
"Virgule" is only the slash [not the underline
and not the back slash]
nos...@sorry.com
<whi...@azstarnet.com> wrote:
>>> Mark J. Moore wrote:
>>> >
>>> > Could someone tell me the name for the division symbol? I know it has
>a
>>> > name but I can't recall. The one I'm referring to is the symbol in
>long
>>> > division with the quotient on top, the divisor outside and the dividend
>>> > underneath. (similar to radical sign) Thanks..Mark
To the original:
Milne's "Standard Arithmetic", 1892, states, "The divisor is written
at the left of the dividend with a line between them, and the quotient
....at the right of it with a line between them." That is, the
numbers are separated by "lines". The first is usually shaped as a
right parenthesis. That is for clarity, to distinguish a vertical
line possibly from a "1". There is no attempt in discussion to join
the two, vertical and horizontal in the case of long division.
However, rapid writing of the statement of division usually causes one
to slur the two together. Although that joining has gone on for some
decades, there has not been a name assigned to the effort. So, the
division is merely a statement in which the quantities are separated
by vertical and horizontal lines (again, the vertical being sometimes
curved for clarity.)
Incidentally, someone suggested "vinculum", I believe? That is the
line over two or more terms, joining them as is done by parentheses
etc., generally called "signs of aggregation". ...Same source, also
Websters.
Hope this helps.
David.