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how many parts the thing or number is divided, and the number above the line shows how many of the parts are used. Thus of an orange signifies, that the orange is divided into three equal parts, and that two of the parts or pieces are used. of a yard of cloth, signifies that the yard is supposed to be divided into five equal parts, and that three of these parts are used. The number below the line is called the denominator, because it gives the denomination or name to the fraction, as halves, thirds, fourths, &c. and the number above the line is called the numerator, because it shows how many parts are used.

We have applied this division to a single thing, but it often happens that we have a number of things which we consider as a bunch or collection, and cf which we wish to take parts, as we do of a single thing. In fact it frequently happens that one case gives rise to the other, so that both kinds of division happen in the same question.

If a barrel of cider cost 2 dollars, what will ↓ of a barrel

cost?

To answer this question, it is evident the number two must be divided into two equal parts, which is very easily done. of 2 is 1.

Again, it may be asked, if a barrel of cider cost 2 dollars, what part of a barrel will one dollar buy?

This question is the reverse of the other. But we have just seen that 1 is of 2, and this enables us to answer the question. It will buy of a barrel.

If a yard of cloth ccst 3 dollars, what will of a yard cost? What will of a yard cost?

If 3 dollars be divided into 3 equal parts, one of the parts vill be 1, and two of the parts will be 2. Hence of a ard will cost 1 dollar, and will cost 2 dollars.

If this question be reversed, and it be asked, what part of yard can be bought for 1 dollar, and what part for 2 dolars; the answer will evidently be of a yard for 1 dollar, and for 2 dollars.

It is easy to see that any number may be divided into as many parts as it contains units, and that the number of units ased will be so many of the parts of that number.

Hence if

it be asked, what part of 5, 3 is, we say, of 5, because 1 is of 5, and 3 is three times as much.

We can now answer the question proposed above, viz. How many yards of cloth, at 6 dollars a yard, may be bought for 45 dollars?

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buy 7 yards, and the other 3 dollars will Ans. 73 yards, which is read 7 yards and

A man hired a labourer for 15 dollars a month; at the end of the time agreed upon, he paid him 143 dollars. How many months did he work?

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The wages of 9 months is 135 dollars, which subtracted from 143, leaves 8 dollars. Now 1 dollar will pay for of a month, consequently 8 dollars will pay for of a month

Ans. 9

Note.

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months.

15

The number which remains after division, as 8 in this example, is called the remainder.

At 97 dollars a ton, how many tons of iron may be bought for 2467 dollars?

Remainder

Operation.
2467 (97

194

25 tons.

527

485

42 dollars.

After paying for 25 tons, there are 42 dollars left. lar will buy of a ton, and 42 dollars will buy How many times is 324 contained in 18364 ?

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I doi

of a ton.

1

It is contained 56 times and 220 over. I is of 324, and 220 is 220 of 324. Ans. 56 times and 220 of another time.

324

324

From the above examples, we deduce the following genetal rule for the remainder: When the division is performed, as far as it can be, if there is a remainder, in order to have the true quotient, write the remainder over the divisor in the form of a fraction, and annex it to the quotient.

XI. We observed in Art. V. that when the multiplier is 10, 100, 1000, &c. the multiplication is performed by annexing the zeros at the right of the multiplicand. In like manner when the divisor is 10, 100, 1000, &c. division may be performed by cutting off as many places from the right of the dividend as there are zeros in the divisor.

At 10 cents a pound, how many pounds of meat may be bought for 64 cents?

The 6 which stands in tens' place shows how many times ten is contained in 60, for 60 signifies 6 tens, and the 4 shows how many the number is more than 6 tens, therefore 4 is the remainder. The operation then may be performed thus, 6.4. The answer is 6 pounds.

A man has 2347 lb. of tobacco, which he wishes to put into boxes containing 100 lb. each; how many boxes will it take?

It is evident that 100 is contained in 2300, 23 times, consequently it will take 23 boxes, and there will be 47 lbs. left, which will fill 4% of another box. The operation may be performed thus, 23.47. Answer 23.

47

47

In general if one figure be cut off from the right, the tens will be brought into the units' place, and hundreds into the tens' place, &c. If two figures be cut off, hundreds are brought into the units' place, and thousands into the tens' place, &c. And if three figures be cut off, thousands are brought into the units' place, &c. that is, the numbers will be made 10, 100, or 1000 times less than before.

Hence to divide by 10, 100, 1000, &c. cut off from the right of the dividend as many figures as there are zeros in the divisor. The remaining figures will be the quotient, and the figures cut off will be the remainder, which must be written over the divisor, and annexed to the quotient.

XII. We observed in Art. X, that any two numbers being given, it is easy to tell what part of the one the other is. Thus :

What part of 10 yards are 3 yards? Ans. 1 is io cf 10, and 3 is of ten.

What part of 237 barrels is 82 barrels? Ans. I is a§7 of 237, and 82 is 82 of 237.

237

Fractions are properly parts of a unit, but by extension the term fraction is often applied to numbers larger than unity. This happens when the numerator is larger than the denominator, in which case there are more parts taken than are sufficient to make a unit. All fractions in which the numerator is equal to the denominator, as 2, 3, 3, 13, &c. are equal to unity; all in which the numerator is less than the denominator are less than unity, anu are called proper fractions; all in which the numerator is greater than the denominator, are more than unity, and are called improper fractions. Thus, 4, 5, are improper fractions.

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The process of finding what part of one number another number is, is called finding their ratio.

What is the ratio of 5 bushels to 3 bushels, or of 5 to 3! This is the same as to say, what part of 5 is 3? The answer is . The ratio of 5 to 3 is 3.

What part of 3 is 5?

is.

Answer §. The ratio of 3 to b

35

Answer 34.

What is the ratio of 35 yards to 17 yards. Answer What is the ratio of 17 to 35 ? To find whet pari of one number another is, make the number which is called the part (whether it be the larger or smaller) the numerator of a fraction, and the other number the denominator.

Also to find the ratio of one number to another, make the number which is expressed first the denominator, and the other the numerator.

XIII. A gentleman gave } of a dollar each to 17 poo persons; how many dollars did it take?

It took of a dollar. But of a dollar make a dollar. consequently as many times as 5 is contained in 17, so many dollars it is. 5 is contained 3 times in 17, and 2 over

That is, make 3 doliars, and there are of another dollar. Ans. 33 dollars.

5

If I man consume of a barrel of flour in a week, how many barrels will an army of 537 men consume in the same time?

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They will consume 57.3 of a barrel make a barrel, therefore as many times as 35 is contained in 537, so many barrels it is.

537 (35

35

151 barrels. Ans.

187

175

12

35 is contained 15 times in 537 and 12 over, of another barrel.

which is

Numbers like 33, 151, which contain a whole number and a fraction, are called mixed numbers. The above process by which 17 was changed to 3%, and 537 to 1512, is called reducing improper fractions to whole or mixed num

bers.

Since the denominator always shows how many of the parts make a whole one, it is evident that any improper fraction may be reduced to a whole or mixed number, by the following rule: Divide the numerator by the denominator, and the quotient will be the whole number. If there he a remainder, write it over the denominator, and annex it to the quotient, and it will form the mixed number required.

XIV. It is sometimes necessary to change a whole or a mixed number to an improper fraction.

A man distributed 3 dollars among some beggars, giving them of a dollar apiece; how many received the money? That is, in 3 dollars, how many fifths of a dollar?

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Each dollar was divided equally among 5 persons, consequently 3 dollars were given to 15 persons. That is, 3 dol

lars are equal to 5 of a dollar.

A man distributed 183 bushels of wheat among some poor persons, giving them of a bushel each; how many persons were there?

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