Baseline Mixed Fractions

[Mary Mosley]

If I have a mixed number with all of the numerals on the same level and a diagonal slash, what is the proper format? I am curious because of the difference between the format for 1/2 (6.4.1) and ½ (9.4.1) being #1_/2 and ?1_/2#. The text with this in it shows:
t = 54/22 or 27/11 or 2 5/11 hours.
seemingly the "2 5/11" represents a mixed fraction, though in this instance, it was given all in the same font size and at the same level.

[Lindy Walton]

Hi.

Referring to the new lesson manual for UEB with Nemeth, 6.4.1 illustrates what I call the "typewriter" method of printing a fraction, where the numbers in the numerator and the denominator are printed on the baseline of writing. The numbers are the same size as the surrounding text. The Nemeth Code says to interpret this as numbers with a slash between them, not using fraction indicators. I believe this rule is to prevent misinterpretation of two numbers with a slash between them -- not always a fraction. It's just a straightforward transcription of number-slash-number.

Sometimes you will encounter a mixed number printed in this fashion, where the whole number is followed by a space and then a "typewriter fraction". It looks like this unusual printing method was overlooked in the lesson book. Check out Section 64 of the Nemeth Code. Example (2) shows a "mixed number" printed this way. As long as you are certain this is a mixed number, go ahead and transcribe it using the "fractional part of a mixed number" indicators and the diagonal fraction line.

Lindy

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