Stacked fractions: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Ambiguities]]
[[Category:Ambiguities]]
[[Category:Handwriting]]


A fraction written on multiple levels is often ambiguous, especially when handwritten. For example, \(\frac{10}{\frac{2}{5}}\) and \(\frac{\frac{10}{2}}{5}\) result in 25 and 1, respectively.
A fraction written on multiple levels is often ambiguous, especially when handwritten. For example, \(\frac{10}{\frac{2}{5}}\) and \(\frac{\frac{10}{2}}{5}\) result in 25 and 1, respectively.

Revision as of 13:44, 11 July 2021


A fraction written on multiple levels is often ambiguous, especially when handwritten. For example, \(\frac{10}{\frac{2}{5}}\) and \(\frac{\frac{10}{2}}{5}\) result in 25 and 1, respectively.

Things get even worse when you use the letter \(\Xi\) in this convoluted example:

A handwritten stacked fraction with Xi bar divided by Xi. In effect it looks like nothing more than a stack of eight horizontal lines of varying sizes.
\(\frac{\bar \Xi}{\Xi}\), handwritten