DENOMINATOR • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Denominator

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/dɪnˈɑmənˌeɪtər/ Listen

noun

Denominator n.

1.

One who, or that which, gives a name; origin or source of a name. "This opinion that Aram... was the father and denomination of the Syrians in general."

2.

(Arith.) That number placed below the line in common fractions which shows into how many parts the integer or unit is divided. Note: Thus, in 3/5, 5 is the denominator, showing that the integer is divided into five parts; and the numerator, 3, shows how many parts are taken.

3.

(Alg.) That part of any expression under a fractional form which is situated below the horizontal line signifying division. Note: In this sense, the denominator is not necessarily a number, but may be any expression, either positive or negative, real or imaginary.

common denominator a number which can divide either of two or more other numbers without leaving a remainder in any of the divisions; as, 2 and 4 are common denominators of 12 and 28..

greatest common denominator the largest common denominator of two or more numbers; as, 9 is the greatest common denominator of 18 and 27..

See images of 'Denominator'

Etymology of 'Denominator'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

Add this dictionary
to your browser search bar

"Denominator" Quotes from Famous Books

... Rousseau's reasoning (264 d) as to society being a denominator which prevents man ...

— THE HISTORY OF EDUCATION • ELLWOOD P. CUBBERLEY

... indirect way this feeling of conquering one person by another, only it was himself, his own cowardice, that he wished eventually to conquer. I would ask Dr. Hall if the notion of which Royce has made so much, namely, the social concept, is not one which perhaps would act as the common denominator in these cases. We cannot assert ourselves and get angry without virtually having reference to other persons, neither can we have sex feelings without such reference. It seems that the social instinct or imagination which is carried ...

— The Journal of Abnormal Psychology - Volume 10

... method of doing these examples is to proceed exactly as though you were multiplying all the factors together, except that whenever you come to a number in the denominator you use the CI scale instead of the C scale. The reader is advised to practice both methods and use whichever ...

— Instruction for Using a Slide Rule • W. Stanley

... the period of consolation. We soon find that we are not so much worse off than most of our neighbors as we supposed. The fractional value of the wisest shows a small numerator divided by an infinite denominator ...

— The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table • Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (The Physician and Poet not the Jurist)

... But this desire of yours to scent Japanese intrigues everywhere, to figure out all politics by the Japanese common denominator, and to see a Japanese spy in every coolie is becoming a positive mania. No, I can't agree with you there," added Webster, who seemed to regret the passionate outburst into which his temperament ...

— Banzai! • Ferdinand Heinrich Grautoff

Copyright © 2025 Dictionary One.com