What is "vulgar fraction"

Fraction \Frac"tion\, n. [F. fraction, L. fractio a breaking, fr. frangere, fractum, to break. See Break.]

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 1/2, one half, 2/5, 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.

Vulgar \Vul"gar\, a. [L. vulgaris, from vulgus the multitude, the common people; of uncertain origin: cf. F. vulgaire. Cf. Divulge.]

1. Of or pertaining to the mass, or multitude, of people; common; general; ordinary; public; hence, in general use; vernacular. ``As common as any the most vulgar thing to sense. '' -- Shak.

   Things vulgar, and well-weighed, scarce worth the praise.
   --Milton.

   It might be more useful to the English reader . . . to write in our vulgar language.
   --Bp. Fell.

   The mechanical process of multiplying books had brought the New Testament in the vulgar tongue within the reach of every class.
   --Bancroft.

2. Belonging or relating to the common people, as distinguished from the cultivated or educated; pertaining to common life; plebeian; not select or distinguished; hence, sometimes, of little or no value. ``Like the vulgar sort of market men.''
   --Shak.

   Men who have passed all their time in low and vulgar life.
   --Addison.

   In reading an account of a battle, we follow the hero with our whole attention, but seldom reflect on the vulgar heaps of slaughter.
   --Rambler.

3. Hence, lacking cultivation or refinement; rustic; boorish; also, offensive to good taste or refined feelings; low; coarse; mean; base; as, vulgar men, minds, language, or manners.

   Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.
   --Shak.

   Vulgar fraction. (Arith.) See under Fraction.

n. (context arithmetic English) A fraction in the form of one integer divided by another, non-zero, integer.