What does the term 'numerator' refer to in a fraction?

What does the term 'numerator' refer to in a fraction?

• A. The bottom number of a fraction.
• B. The top number of a fraction.
• C. The sum of the numerator and denominator.
• D. The product of the numerator and denominator.

Answer: (B)

In a fraction, the numerator is the top number. It shows how many parts of the whole are being counted or shaded. The bottom number is the denominator, which tells into how many equal parts the whole is divided. For example, in 3/8, the numerator is 3, meaning three parts out of the eight equal parts are being considered. The denominator would be eight. The fraction isn’t described by adding or multiplying the two numbers, so those ideas don’t define the numerator.

In a fraction, the numerator is the top number. It shows how many parts of the whole are being counted or shaded. The bottom number is the denominator, which tells into how many equal parts the whole is divided. For example, in 3/8, the numerator is 3, meaning three parts out of the eight equal parts are being considered. The denominator would be eight. The fraction isn’t described by adding or multiplying the two numbers, so those ideas don’t define the numerator.