Frac·tion n.
 1. The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially by violence. [Obs.]
    Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to any fraction or breaking up.   --Foxe.
 2. A portion; a fragment.
    Some niggard fractions of an hour.   --Tennyson.
 3. Arith. or Alg. One or more aliquot parts of a unit or whole number; an expression for a definite portion of a unit or magnitude.
 Common fraction, or Vulgar fraction, a fraction in which the number of equal parts into which the integer is supposed to be divided is indicated by figures or letters, called the denominator, written below a line, over which is the numerator, indicating the number of these parts included in the fraction; as ½, one half, ⅖, two fifths.
 Complex fraction, a fraction having a fraction or mixed number in the numerator or denominator, or in both. --Davies & Peck.
 Compound fraction, a fraction of a fraction; two or more fractions connected by of.
 Continued fraction, Decimal fraction, Partial fraction, etc. See under Continued, Decimal, Partial, etc.
 Improper fraction, a fraction in which the numerator is greater than the denominator.
 Proper fraction, a fraction in which the numerator is less than the denominator.


 Im·prop·er a.
 1. Not proper; not suitable; not fitted to the circumstances, design, or end; unfit; not becoming; incongruous; inappropriate; indecent; as, an improper medicine; improper thought, behavior, language, dress.
 Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service,
 Improper for a slave.   --Shak.
 And to their proper operation still,
 Ascribe all Good; to their improper, Ill.   --Pope.
 2. Not peculiar or appropriate to individuals; general; common. [Obs.]
    Not to be adorned with any art but such improper ones as nature is said to bestow, as singing and poetry.   --J. Fletcher.
 3. Not according to facts; inaccurate; erroneous.
 Improper diphthong. See under Diphthong.
 Improper feud, an original feud, not earned by military service. --Mozley & W.
 Improper fraction. See under Fraction.


 improper fraction
      n : a fraction whose numerator is larger than the denominator