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Hong Kong SAR China flagAmber yip
Question about number I have some question about pronouncing numbers: if 1/2= a half, 1/4= a quarter, then how about 1/5 or 3/5 or some bigger number like 25/37?

Answers · 5

3
Here's my take on it as a Maths and Statistics graduate.~ Usually when we talk about fractions with large numerators or denominators, we can say: 1/5 One over five One divided by five a fifth/one fifth 3/5 Three over five Three divided by five three fifths 25/37 = twenty five over thirty seven twenty five all over thirty seven twenty five divided by thirty seven twenty-five , thirty-sevenths Simply because once you start working with large numbers, it can be confusing when I want someone to understand (when I'm talking over the phone): 234/478. 'two hundred and thirty four' over 'four hundred and seventy eight.' 'two hundred and thirty four' divided by 'four hundred and seventy eight.' Of course you can also say: two hundred and thirty four , four hundred and seventy eighths Saying the over/divided words in English makes it clear that it's a fraction. A number such as 0.749 is pronounced as: 'seven hundred forty nine thousandths' Which people may get confused with. (simply because in maths/science/engineering it may be useful to work in fractions or decimals.) Personally, I think decimals is harder to pronounce (even for English natives). I hope that helps!
2
We always use the ordinal numbers (past 2) for fractions. So...it would be one fifth, three fifths or twenty-five thirty-sevenths (so add s when more than one part). Good luck!
2
1/5 = one fifth 3/5 = three fifths 25/37 = twenty five thirty sevenths So basically, put th or ths at the end of the last number
1
1/5 one fifth 3/5 three fifths 25/37 twenty five thirty sevenths Although I would say you would not really usethe last one ever.
1
Once you've got past 4 (i.e. a quarter), all the numbers for fractions like this become the same as the corresponding ordinal (-th) numbers, so in your examples: 1/5 = a fifth / one-fifth 3/5 = three fifths 25/37 = twenty-five thirty-sevenths

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