How do I pronounce $frac{5}{2}$?
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I'm currently going "back to school" to study the addition and subtraction of improper fractions (yeah, I have some catching up to do), and something occurred to me.
I know that $frac 13$ is pronounced as one third.
$frac 25$ is pronounced as two fifths.
$frac 36$ is pronounced as three sixths.
But what exactly is the equivalent pronunciation for $frac 52$?
It feels odd to pronounce it as five halves, although I'm not sure whether this is because it's wrong or because it's just rarely used. Is this the most accepted way to pronounce it, or is there another?
I'm British, since this is technically a pronunciation question, but I posted this here because it feels more like a maths question than an English one. Also because I prefer this Stack site to the English one, but don't tell them.
arithmetic fractions pronunciation
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I'm currently going "back to school" to study the addition and subtraction of improper fractions (yeah, I have some catching up to do), and something occurred to me.
I know that $frac 13$ is pronounced as one third.
$frac 25$ is pronounced as two fifths.
$frac 36$ is pronounced as three sixths.
But what exactly is the equivalent pronunciation for $frac 52$?
It feels odd to pronounce it as five halves, although I'm not sure whether this is because it's wrong or because it's just rarely used. Is this the most accepted way to pronounce it, or is there another?
I'm British, since this is technically a pronunciation question, but I posted this here because it feels more like a maths question than an English one. Also because I prefer this Stack site to the English one, but don't tell them.
arithmetic fractions pronunciation
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2
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"five over two"?
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– Lord Shark the Unknown
6 hours ago
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@LordSharktheUnknown That's a workaround, but for the sake of consistency, and curiosity, I'm wondering if there's a natural language equivalent like there is with the other examples.
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– Hashim
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
You can use the "five by/over two" format for other numbers as well.
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– Shubham Johri
6 hours ago
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@Hashim In natural language, it's "two and a half" :-)
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– Lord Shark the Unknown
6 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
The question is how do you pronounce 5/2, and the answer is that it is the way that you pronounce 5/2. However way it might be, it is the way that you pronounce it simply by the very subjective nature of the question. Unless it's a riddle in which case...
$endgroup$
– Asaf Karagila♦
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I'm currently going "back to school" to study the addition and subtraction of improper fractions (yeah, I have some catching up to do), and something occurred to me.
I know that $frac 13$ is pronounced as one third.
$frac 25$ is pronounced as two fifths.
$frac 36$ is pronounced as three sixths.
But what exactly is the equivalent pronunciation for $frac 52$?
It feels odd to pronounce it as five halves, although I'm not sure whether this is because it's wrong or because it's just rarely used. Is this the most accepted way to pronounce it, or is there another?
I'm British, since this is technically a pronunciation question, but I posted this here because it feels more like a maths question than an English one. Also because I prefer this Stack site to the English one, but don't tell them.
arithmetic fractions pronunciation
$endgroup$
I'm currently going "back to school" to study the addition and subtraction of improper fractions (yeah, I have some catching up to do), and something occurred to me.
I know that $frac 13$ is pronounced as one third.
$frac 25$ is pronounced as two fifths.
$frac 36$ is pronounced as three sixths.
But what exactly is the equivalent pronunciation for $frac 52$?
It feels odd to pronounce it as five halves, although I'm not sure whether this is because it's wrong or because it's just rarely used. Is this the most accepted way to pronounce it, or is there another?
I'm British, since this is technically a pronunciation question, but I posted this here because it feels more like a maths question than an English one. Also because I prefer this Stack site to the English one, but don't tell them.
arithmetic fractions pronunciation
arithmetic fractions pronunciation
edited 3 hours ago
community wiki
Hashim
2
$begingroup$
"five over two"?
$endgroup$
– Lord Shark the Unknown
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LordSharktheUnknown That's a workaround, but for the sake of consistency, and curiosity, I'm wondering if there's a natural language equivalent like there is with the other examples.
$endgroup$
– Hashim
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
You can use the "five by/over two" format for other numbers as well.
$endgroup$
– Shubham Johri
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Hashim In natural language, it's "two and a half" :-)
$endgroup$
– Lord Shark the Unknown
6 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
The question is how do you pronounce 5/2, and the answer is that it is the way that you pronounce 5/2. However way it might be, it is the way that you pronounce it simply by the very subjective nature of the question. Unless it's a riddle in which case...
$endgroup$
– Asaf Karagila♦
3 hours ago
add a comment |
2
$begingroup$
"five over two"?
$endgroup$
– Lord Shark the Unknown
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LordSharktheUnknown That's a workaround, but for the sake of consistency, and curiosity, I'm wondering if there's a natural language equivalent like there is with the other examples.
$endgroup$
– Hashim
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
You can use the "five by/over two" format for other numbers as well.
$endgroup$
– Shubham Johri
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Hashim In natural language, it's "two and a half" :-)
$endgroup$
– Lord Shark the Unknown
6 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
The question is how do you pronounce 5/2, and the answer is that it is the way that you pronounce 5/2. However way it might be, it is the way that you pronounce it simply by the very subjective nature of the question. Unless it's a riddle in which case...
$endgroup$
– Asaf Karagila♦
3 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
"five over two"?
$endgroup$
– Lord Shark the Unknown
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
"five over two"?
$endgroup$
– Lord Shark the Unknown
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LordSharktheUnknown That's a workaround, but for the sake of consistency, and curiosity, I'm wondering if there's a natural language equivalent like there is with the other examples.
$endgroup$
– Hashim
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LordSharktheUnknown That's a workaround, but for the sake of consistency, and curiosity, I'm wondering if there's a natural language equivalent like there is with the other examples.
$endgroup$
– Hashim
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
You can use the "five by/over two" format for other numbers as well.
$endgroup$
– Shubham Johri
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
You can use the "five by/over two" format for other numbers as well.
$endgroup$
– Shubham Johri
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Hashim In natural language, it's "two and a half" :-)
$endgroup$
– Lord Shark the Unknown
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Hashim In natural language, it's "two and a half" :-)
$endgroup$
– Lord Shark the Unknown
6 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
The question is how do you pronounce 5/2, and the answer is that it is the way that you pronounce 5/2. However way it might be, it is the way that you pronounce it simply by the very subjective nature of the question. Unless it's a riddle in which case...
$endgroup$
– Asaf Karagila♦
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
The question is how do you pronounce 5/2, and the answer is that it is the way that you pronounce 5/2. However way it might be, it is the way that you pronounce it simply by the very subjective nature of the question. Unless it's a riddle in which case...
$endgroup$
– Asaf Karagila♦
3 hours ago
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
I would say "five halves".
A few more characters.
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$begingroup$
In a general context it's very strange. I mean 5 halves of apples would be fine, but generally when not having something physically splittable does not make much sense.
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– Overmind
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I think that "five halves" sounds odd because it is unlikely in a non-mathematical context. "I have two thirds of a cake" is plausible but I don't think that "I have five halves of a cake" is, "I have two and a half cakes" is much more plausible. Even if you had five half cakes (cut three into two and then eat one piece),"five half cakes" would be more likely.
In maths, or some other technical context, I would say "five over two".
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In my opinion, the way you pronounce 2/5 will affect how you are understood, and is therefore context dependent.
If you say "two and a half" then it sounds like you have this:
If you say "five halves" then it sounds like you have this:
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In India it is pronounced as "five by two" or "five divided by two"
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$begingroup$
Fine in the UK as well in a technical context. However, probably not in natural, non-technical speech.
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– badjohn
5 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Can't "five by two" be understood as 5*2 instead of 5/2?
$endgroup$
– Pere
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
It's a danger. Spoken formulae can be ambiguous. The speaker's intonation may help otherwise you may have to guess or ask. "Five by two" is a common phrasing when discussing wood or image sizes. In both cases, $5 / 2$ and $ 5 times 2$ would have a useful meaning.
$endgroup$
– badjohn
4 hours ago
add a comment |
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
I would say "five halves".
A few more characters.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
In a general context it's very strange. I mean 5 halves of apples would be fine, but generally when not having something physically splittable does not make much sense.
$endgroup$
– Overmind
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I would say "five halves".
A few more characters.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
In a general context it's very strange. I mean 5 halves of apples would be fine, but generally when not having something physically splittable does not make much sense.
$endgroup$
– Overmind
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I would say "five halves".
A few more characters.
$endgroup$
I would say "five halves".
A few more characters.
answered 6 hours ago
community wiki
marty cohen
$begingroup$
In a general context it's very strange. I mean 5 halves of apples would be fine, but generally when not having something physically splittable does not make much sense.
$endgroup$
– Overmind
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In a general context it's very strange. I mean 5 halves of apples would be fine, but generally when not having something physically splittable does not make much sense.
$endgroup$
– Overmind
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
In a general context it's very strange. I mean 5 halves of apples would be fine, but generally when not having something physically splittable does not make much sense.
$endgroup$
– Overmind
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
In a general context it's very strange. I mean 5 halves of apples would be fine, but generally when not having something physically splittable does not make much sense.
$endgroup$
– Overmind
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I think that "five halves" sounds odd because it is unlikely in a non-mathematical context. "I have two thirds of a cake" is plausible but I don't think that "I have five halves of a cake" is, "I have two and a half cakes" is much more plausible. Even if you had five half cakes (cut three into two and then eat one piece),"five half cakes" would be more likely.
In maths, or some other technical context, I would say "five over two".
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I think that "five halves" sounds odd because it is unlikely in a non-mathematical context. "I have two thirds of a cake" is plausible but I don't think that "I have five halves of a cake" is, "I have two and a half cakes" is much more plausible. Even if you had five half cakes (cut three into two and then eat one piece),"five half cakes" would be more likely.
In maths, or some other technical context, I would say "five over two".
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I think that "five halves" sounds odd because it is unlikely in a non-mathematical context. "I have two thirds of a cake" is plausible but I don't think that "I have five halves of a cake" is, "I have two and a half cakes" is much more plausible. Even if you had five half cakes (cut three into two and then eat one piece),"five half cakes" would be more likely.
In maths, or some other technical context, I would say "five over two".
$endgroup$
I think that "five halves" sounds odd because it is unlikely in a non-mathematical context. "I have two thirds of a cake" is plausible but I don't think that "I have five halves of a cake" is, "I have two and a half cakes" is much more plausible. Even if you had five half cakes (cut three into two and then eat one piece),"five half cakes" would be more likely.
In maths, or some other technical context, I would say "five over two".
answered 6 hours ago
community wiki
badjohn
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In my opinion, the way you pronounce 2/5 will affect how you are understood, and is therefore context dependent.
If you say "two and a half" then it sounds like you have this:
If you say "five halves" then it sounds like you have this:
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In my opinion, the way you pronounce 2/5 will affect how you are understood, and is therefore context dependent.
If you say "two and a half" then it sounds like you have this:
If you say "five halves" then it sounds like you have this:
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In my opinion, the way you pronounce 2/5 will affect how you are understood, and is therefore context dependent.
If you say "two and a half" then it sounds like you have this:
If you say "five halves" then it sounds like you have this:
$endgroup$
In my opinion, the way you pronounce 2/5 will affect how you are understood, and is therefore context dependent.
If you say "two and a half" then it sounds like you have this:
If you say "five halves" then it sounds like you have this:
answered 4 hours ago
community wiki
dotancohen
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In India it is pronounced as "five by two" or "five divided by two"
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Fine in the UK as well in a technical context. However, probably not in natural, non-technical speech.
$endgroup$
– badjohn
5 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Can't "five by two" be understood as 5*2 instead of 5/2?
$endgroup$
– Pere
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
It's a danger. Spoken formulae can be ambiguous. The speaker's intonation may help otherwise you may have to guess or ask. "Five by two" is a common phrasing when discussing wood or image sizes. In both cases, $5 / 2$ and $ 5 times 2$ would have a useful meaning.
$endgroup$
– badjohn
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In India it is pronounced as "five by two" or "five divided by two"
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Fine in the UK as well in a technical context. However, probably not in natural, non-technical speech.
$endgroup$
– badjohn
5 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Can't "five by two" be understood as 5*2 instead of 5/2?
$endgroup$
– Pere
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
It's a danger. Spoken formulae can be ambiguous. The speaker's intonation may help otherwise you may have to guess or ask. "Five by two" is a common phrasing when discussing wood or image sizes. In both cases, $5 / 2$ and $ 5 times 2$ would have a useful meaning.
$endgroup$
– badjohn
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In India it is pronounced as "five by two" or "five divided by two"
$endgroup$
In India it is pronounced as "five by two" or "five divided by two"
edited 2 hours ago
community wiki
2 revs
saket kumar
$begingroup$
Fine in the UK as well in a technical context. However, probably not in natural, non-technical speech.
$endgroup$
– badjohn
5 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Can't "five by two" be understood as 5*2 instead of 5/2?
$endgroup$
– Pere
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
It's a danger. Spoken formulae can be ambiguous. The speaker's intonation may help otherwise you may have to guess or ask. "Five by two" is a common phrasing when discussing wood or image sizes. In both cases, $5 / 2$ and $ 5 times 2$ would have a useful meaning.
$endgroup$
– badjohn
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Fine in the UK as well in a technical context. However, probably not in natural, non-technical speech.
$endgroup$
– badjohn
5 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Can't "five by two" be understood as 5*2 instead of 5/2?
$endgroup$
– Pere
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
It's a danger. Spoken formulae can be ambiguous. The speaker's intonation may help otherwise you may have to guess or ask. "Five by two" is a common phrasing when discussing wood or image sizes. In both cases, $5 / 2$ and $ 5 times 2$ would have a useful meaning.
$endgroup$
– badjohn
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fine in the UK as well in a technical context. However, probably not in natural, non-technical speech.
$endgroup$
– badjohn
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fine in the UK as well in a technical context. However, probably not in natural, non-technical speech.
$endgroup$
– badjohn
5 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Can't "five by two" be understood as 5*2 instead of 5/2?
$endgroup$
– Pere
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
Can't "five by two" be understood as 5*2 instead of 5/2?
$endgroup$
– Pere
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
It's a danger. Spoken formulae can be ambiguous. The speaker's intonation may help otherwise you may have to guess or ask. "Five by two" is a common phrasing when discussing wood or image sizes. In both cases, $5 / 2$ and $ 5 times 2$ would have a useful meaning.
$endgroup$
– badjohn
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
It's a danger. Spoken formulae can be ambiguous. The speaker's intonation may help otherwise you may have to guess or ask. "Five by two" is a common phrasing when discussing wood or image sizes. In both cases, $5 / 2$ and $ 5 times 2$ would have a useful meaning.
$endgroup$
– badjohn
4 hours ago
add a comment |
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2
$begingroup$
"five over two"?
$endgroup$
– Lord Shark the Unknown
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LordSharktheUnknown That's a workaround, but for the sake of consistency, and curiosity, I'm wondering if there's a natural language equivalent like there is with the other examples.
$endgroup$
– Hashim
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
You can use the "five by/over two" format for other numbers as well.
$endgroup$
– Shubham Johri
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Hashim In natural language, it's "two and a half" :-)
$endgroup$
– Lord Shark the Unknown
6 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
The question is how do you pronounce 5/2, and the answer is that it is the way that you pronounce 5/2. However way it might be, it is the way that you pronounce it simply by the very subjective nature of the question. Unless it's a riddle in which case...
$endgroup$
– Asaf Karagila♦
3 hours ago