single word requests - What is the name of the horizontal division line?



What is the name of the horizontal division line? Is there a name for it other than "division line?


x above a horizontal line above y



Answer



Vinculum is a word used broadly to describe any horizontal line in mathematical symbols. The line between numerator and denominator, the line above the recurring decimal, etc are some examples of vincula.


More commonly, the line is called a fraction or division bar.


On a related note, the '/' sign denoting division in a/b is called a solidus and the ÷ sign in a÷b is called an obelus.


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