No mathematician in the world would bother making these senseless distinctions: 2 1/2 is a "mixed number " while 5/2 is an "improper fraction." They're EQUAL for crying out loud. They are the exact same numbers and have the exact same properties. Who uses such words outside of fourth grade?

Paul Lockhart
About This Quote

All numbers are equal, but some are more equal than others. There are numerous mathematical concepts that are only understood by fourth graders. "Mixed" numbers are numbers that are equal to one of more fractions. While, an improper fraction is a number that has already been divided by one less than the denominator. The word "equals" occurs whenever you talk about mixed numbers or improper fractions.

Source: A Mathematicians Lament: How School Cheats Us Out Of Our Most Fascinating And Imaginative Art Form

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