Division is often shown in algebra and science by placing the dividend over the divisor with a horizontal line, also called a vinculum or fraction bar, between them. For example, a divided by b is written
a
-
b
This can be read out loud as "a divided by b" or "a over b". A way to express division all on one line is to write the dividend, or numerator then a slash, then the divisor, or denominator like this:
a/b
This is the usual way to specify division in most computer programming languages since it can easily be typed as a simple sequence of characters.
A typographical variation, which is halfway between these two forms, uses a solidus (fraction slash) but elevates the dividend, and lowers the divisor:
a/b
Any of these forms can be used to display a fraction. A fraction is a division expression where both dividend and divisor are integers (although typically called the numerator and denominator), and there is no implication that the division needs to be evaluated further.
A second way to show division is to use the obelus (or division sign), common in arithmetic, in this manner:
a ÷ b
This form is infrequent except in elementary arithmetic. The obelus is also used alone to represent the division operation itself, as for instance as a label on a key of a calculator.
In some non-English-speaking cultures, "a divided by b" is written a : b. However, in English usage the colon is restricted to expressing the related concept of ratios (then "a is to b").
Autopsy Begins for Jett Travolta
An autopsy has begun in the Bahamas for John Travolta and Kelly Preston's 16-year-old son, Jett.
Two pathologists will attempt to determine what exactly caused the tragic Friday...
Medical Expert on Jett Travolta: Seizures Can Kill
In light of Monday's autopsy finding that Jett Travolta, the 16-year-old son of John Travolta and Kelly Preston, died of a seizure, a medical expert tells E! News that seizures can cause...
Lindsay Blogs About Not Breaking Up
Lindsay Lohan has used her blog to do some important stuff, like support Obama and diss her dad. And now she's using it to deny that she and her frequent sparring partner, Samantha Ronson,...
Roman Polanski Wants Court Off His Case
You can take the case out of court, but can you take the court out of the case?
Roman Polanski, who last month moved to have a decades-old charge of unlawful intercourse with a minor...
Spoiler Chat: Guess Who May Have a Secret Son?
Oh, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, you sneaky devil. You always keep us guessing—even from beyond the grave!
Even though he is fully dead on Grey's Anatomy, Supernatural and Weeds, that...
Patricia Arquette Cuts Her Husband Loose
On the job, Patricia Arquette sees dead people. In real life, she sees divorce lawyers.
The Medium star has filed for divorce from her husband of two and a half years, Punisher hero...
What's a Scientology Funeral Like?Given the sad news about Jett Travolta, I got to wondering: What is a Scientology funeral like?
—Deb, Skokie, Ill.
There are funerary customs specific to Scientology, the...
Afternoon Fix: Is This What Courtney Love Wears When She Crazy Blogs?
• If it blogs like a crazy blogger and looks like a crazy blogger, it's probably Courtney Love. No doubt, we would blog thousands of words of nonsense if we wore this to...
Party's Over for Jennifer Love Hewitt and Fiancé
Ghost Whisperer Jennifer Love Hewitt's engagement to Ross McCall has fizzled into silence.
"They broke up over the holidays and have ended their engagement," a source close...
Tim Allen Offers Condolences to Travoltas
As a father himself with another child on the way, Tim Allen can sympathize with John Travolta and Kelly Preston.
Allen, who costarred in the hit biker comedy Wild Hogs with...
Al Franken Squeaking Into Senate Seat
Apparently Al Franken is good enough and smart enough—and at least 225 people like him more than the other guy.
The political humorist and former Saturday Night Live writer-actor...
Superstars of Dance Clicks; Lipstick Jungle Doesn't
Weekend TV's Big Winners: Dancers, or as they should now be called Prime Time's Most Bankable Kind of People.
Last night's two-hour premiere of NBC's Superstars of Dance...
Gossip Guys Have Starlets' Panting
Hollywood's love for Gossip Girl (all new tonight!) hasn't ever been a secret, but lately Tinseltown's starlets have been seriously loose-lipped about their crushes on Upper East...
Are Lindsay Lohan & Samantha Ronson Dunzo?
Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson reportedly welcomed in the New Year with a back alley fight show followed by a boxing match in their hotel hallway, so it only makes sense that a report (by way...
Why So Sunny? Dark Knight's a PGA Nominee
The Dark Knight's Oscar campaign has picked up another key endorsement.
The Batman epic is one of five nominees for the Producers of America Guild's version of Best Picture: the...
Pat Hingle, Batman's Commissioner Gordon, Dead
Lower the Bat-Signal.
Pat Hingle, the veteran character actor best remembered by fanboys as Gotham City's Commissioner Gordon in Tim Burton's Batman movie and its three sequels,...
Sightings: It's Amore for Ashley Olsen and Her Man
ITALIAN JOB: Ashley Olsen, enjoying dinner (but not the paparazzi attention) Saturday night at Italian restaurant Pace in Los Angeles with hottie actor boyfriend Justin Bartha.
LOVE TO...
Is Madonna's Little Girl Meant for Stardom?
We've been anxiously awaiting the acting/singing/modeling debut of Madonna's firstborn, Lourdes Ciccone Leon, for a while. The 14-year-old, who looks like she just fell out of an...
Britney Spears' Not-So-Tweet Hacker
Even during the height of her head-shaving, umbrella-wielding phase, it's doubtful Britney Spears would have left a lewd message for her fans about her girly parts.
Someone has...
Police: Paris Hilton Thief a Frenemy?
Paris Hilton might want to reevaluate the invite list before her next house party.
Los Angeles Police detectives investigating last month's $2 million jewel heist from the hotel...