Denominator
noun
In a fraction, it's the bottom number that shows how many equal parts the item is divided into.
In the fraction 3/4, 4 is the denominator.
Often appears as...
- common denominator
- lowest common denominator
Usage tips
Academic
noun
It is something shared commonly among a group or things.
Love for music is the common denominator among all members of the band.
Often appears as...
- common denominator
- lowest common denominator
Usage tips
Formal
noun
In a fraction, it's the bottom number that shows how many equal parts the item is divided into.
In the fraction 3/4, 4 is the denominator.
Often appears as...
- common denominator
- lowest common denominator
Usage tips
Academic
noun
It is something shared commonly among a group or things.
Love for music is the common denominator among all members of the band.
Often appears as...
- common denominator
- lowest common denominator
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Fraction Component
The denominator indicates the total number of parts in a fraction, not just the ones being considered.
If a cake is cut into 8 pieces, 8 is the denominator even if you only eat 2 pieces.
Pro Tip 2/3Relative Size
A larger denominator means smaller individual parts when the numerator is unchanged.
1/5 of a pizza is less than 1/3 of the same pizza because 5 is a bigger denominator.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Just Quantity
Denominators can describe parts of a whole beyond physical items, like time or probability.
In the probability of 1/52 of drawing an ace from a deck, 52 is the denominator.
Pro Tip 1/3Fraction Component
The denominator indicates the total number of parts in a fraction, not just the ones being considered.
If a cake is cut into 8 pieces, 8 is the denominator even if you only eat 2 pieces.
Pro Tip 2/3Relative Size
A larger denominator means smaller individual parts when the numerator is unchanged.
1/5 of a pizza is less than 1/3 of the same pizza because 5 is a bigger denominator.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Just Quantity
Denominators can describe parts of a whole beyond physical items, like time or probability.
In the probability of 1/52 of drawing an ace from a deck, 52 is the denominator.
Pro Tip 1/3Fraction Component
The denominator indicates the total number of parts in a fraction, not just the ones being considered.
If a cake is cut into 8 pieces, 8 is the denominator even if you only eat 2 pieces.
Pro Tip 2/3Relative Size
A larger denominator means smaller individual parts when the numerator is unchanged.
1/5 of a pizza is less than 1/3 of the same pizza because 5 is a bigger denominator.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Just Quantity
Denominators can describe parts of a whole beyond physical items, like time or probability.
In the probability of 1/52 of drawing an ace from a deck, 52 is the denominator.
Never forget "Denominator"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
How love can help repair...
you but for me and many other women around the world we see ourselves and our potential reflected in beyonce's content so for example when she says things like who run the world girls we see our potential reflected in that so this is really the common denominator of a lot of pop culture that we
Video examples
Can we eat to starve...
affecting more than a billion people worldwide, that all look on the surface to be different from one another, but all actually share abnormal angiogenesis as their common denominator. And this realization is allowing us to re-conceptualize the way that we actually approach these diseases,
Video examples
Measuring what makes...
have actually fostered a sense of gratitude gratitude about what they do have how many of us here is tedsters in the audience spend more of our time in the bottom half of this equation in the denominator where we are a bottom-heavy culture in more ways than one
Video examples
Can we eat to starve...
affecting more than a billion people worldwide that all look on the surface to be different from one another but all actually share abnormal angiogenesis as their common denominator in this realization is allowing us to reconceptualize the way that we actually
Video examples
East vs west -- the...
Which is right? Two different mythologies, two different ways of looking at the world. One linear, one cyclical. One believes this is the one and only life. The other believes this is one of many lives. And so, the denominator of Alexander's life was one.
Video examples
Chip Conley: Measuring...
all have fostered a sense of gratitude about what they do have. How many of us here, as TEDsters in the audience, spend more of our time in the bottom half of this equation, in the denominator? We are a bottom-heavy culture in more ways than one.
Video examples
Larry Brilliant: TED...
to protect us against the things that are humanity's worst nightmare. And so my TED wish is based on the common denominator of these experiences. Smallpox -- early detection, early response. Blindness, polio -- early detection, early response.
Video examples
Nathan Myhrvold: A life...
this whole talk has been a mile wide and an inch deep, but that's really what works for me." And regardless of whether it's nuclear reactors or metamaterials or whale sex, the common -- or lowest common denominator -- is me.
Video examples
Ray Anderson: The...
from the numerator -- call it T1 -- where it increases impact, to the denominator -- call it T2 -- where it reduces impact? I thought about the characteristics of first industrial revolution,
Video examples
Apollo Robbins on Fear PIPE...
there's a common denominator I think between magic fear and humor in that for all of them to be successful if you know
Video examples
How love can help repair...
you but for me and many other women around the world we see ourselves and our potential reflected in beyonce's content so for example when she says things like who run the world girls we see our potential reflected in that so this is really the common denominator of a lot of pop culture that we
Video examples
Can we eat to starve...
affecting more than a billion people worldwide, that all look on the surface to be different from one another, but all actually share abnormal angiogenesis as their common denominator. And this realization is allowing us to re-conceptualize the way that we actually approach these diseases,
Video examples
Measuring what makes...
have actually fostered a sense of gratitude gratitude about what they do have how many of us here is tedsters in the audience spend more of our time in the bottom half of this equation in the denominator where we are a bottom-heavy culture in more ways than one
Video examples
Can we eat to starve...
affecting more than a billion people worldwide that all look on the surface to be different from one another but all actually share abnormal angiogenesis as their common denominator in this realization is allowing us to reconceptualize the way that we actually
Video examples
East vs west -- the...
Which is right? Two different mythologies, two different ways of looking at the world. One linear, one cyclical. One believes this is the one and only life. The other believes this is one of many lives. And so, the denominator of Alexander's life was one.
Video examples
Chip Conley: Measuring...
all have fostered a sense of gratitude about what they do have. How many of us here, as TEDsters in the audience, spend more of our time in the bottom half of this equation, in the denominator? We are a bottom-heavy culture in more ways than one.
Video examples
Larry Brilliant: TED...
to protect us against the things that are humanity's worst nightmare. And so my TED wish is based on the common denominator of these experiences. Smallpox -- early detection, early response. Blindness, polio -- early detection, early response.
Video examples
Nathan Myhrvold: A life...
this whole talk has been a mile wide and an inch deep, but that's really what works for me." And regardless of whether it's nuclear reactors or metamaterials or whale sex, the common -- or lowest common denominator -- is me.
Video examples
Ray Anderson: The...
from the numerator -- call it T1 -- where it increases impact, to the denominator -- call it T2 -- where it reduces impact? I thought about the characteristics of first industrial revolution,
Video examples
Apollo Robbins on Fear PIPE...
there's a common denominator I think between magic fear and humor in that for all of them to be successful if you know
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Stephen M. Ross
American Businessman
Sports is the common denominator in the world that brings everyone together. If there's any one place in the world where there is equality, it is probably sports. That was something that didn't always exist. We've come a long way in sports. Why can't society use sports as a way to bring people together and create change?
Quote examples
Matthew McConaughey
American Actor
Any artist, the work you do, if it's a painting or if it's a performance, you hope it translates to a common denominator with the people that they see something in their own life in there. Or they see something in somebody else's life. That's what's fun about sharing art.
Quote examples
Pete Townshend
British Musician
I don't view the fans in the way that most performers do. As a mass of people who have paid money, I know what they want. It's a very, very, very, very, very low common denominator.
Quote examples
Hannah Arendt
German Historian
We have almost succeeded in leveling all human activities to the common denominator of securing the necessities of life and providing for their abundance.
Quote examples
Sarah Lancashire
British Actress
Am I attracted to people who want to give other people a voice? Yes I am, and that may be a 'common denominator with the characters that I play.
Quote examples
W. H. Auden
English Poet
Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh.
Quote examples
Juliette Binoche
French Actress
Before I thought there was a common denominator between my films - as if all my characters were sisters - but I'm not so sure now.
Quote examples
Laurence Fishburne
American Actor
Philanthropic work reminds you of everyone's common humanity, and that's really the common denominator for everyone.
Quote examples
Spike Lee
American Director
I respect the audience's intelligence a lot, and that's why I don't try to go for the lowest common denominator.
Quote examples
Ray Romano
American Actor
It seems to be a common denominator with a lot of comics, this low self-esteem thing.
Quote examples
Stephen M. Ross
American Businessman
Sports is the common denominator in the world that brings everyone together. If there's any one place in the world where there is equality, it is probably sports. That was something that didn't always exist. We've come a long way in sports. Why can't society use sports as a way to bring people together and create change?
Quote examples
Matthew McConaughey
American Actor
Any artist, the work you do, if it's a painting or if it's a performance, you hope it translates to a common denominator with the people that they see something in their own life in there. Or they see something in somebody else's life. That's what's fun about sharing art.
Quote examples
Pete Townshend
British Musician
I don't view the fans in the way that most performers do. As a mass of people who have paid money, I know what they want. It's a very, very, very, very, very low common denominator.
Quote examples
Hannah Arendt
German Historian
We have almost succeeded in leveling all human activities to the common denominator of securing the necessities of life and providing for their abundance.
Quote examples
Sarah Lancashire
British Actress
Am I attracted to people who want to give other people a voice? Yes I am, and that may be a 'common denominator with the characters that I play.
Quote examples
W. H. Auden
English Poet
Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh.
Quote examples
Juliette Binoche
French Actress
Before I thought there was a common denominator between my films - as if all my characters were sisters - but I'm not so sure now.
Quote examples
Laurence Fishburne
American Actor
Philanthropic work reminds you of everyone's common humanity, and that's really the common denominator for everyone.
Quote examples
Spike Lee
American Director
I respect the audience's intelligence a lot, and that's why I don't try to go for the lowest common denominator.
Quote examples
Ray Romano
American Actor
It seems to be a common denominator with a lot of comics, this low self-esteem thing.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension