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What is a better translation of a "fraction line" into French?

I have two:

  • ligne de fraction
  • barre de fraction

"fraction line" is a line between the nominator and denominator of a fraction. It looks like a horizontal line or a slash.

I think that the 2nd one is better.

image

EDIT: maybe there is a difference between the line that appears in the horizontal vs diagonal fraction.

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  • In what context are you saying fraction line? Because in English, one normally just talks about the numerator and the denominator. Can you give us more context??
    – Lambie
    Oct 30, 2016 at 15:57
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    @Lambie In English when you write a fraction vertical fraction you have 3 elements: a numerator, a fraction bar and a denominator, see an example on a site for kids. When you write a linear fraction you also have 3 elements: a numerator, a stroke (they call it slash in the US) and a denominator, see the fraction article on Wikipedia. Although OP's English is not really good, the picture they're pointing to makes the question and context very clear.
    – None
    Oct 30, 2016 at 16:27
  • It's still not clear. Fraction bar? Stroke? Slash in the US? A stroke or slash in the US is always on an angle. So, it's not what the dividing line between the numerator and denominator is called. It's just a (horizontal or diagonal, in some typography) line separating the two. Now, in what context would one need to name that? A fair question, isn't it?
    – Lambie
    Oct 30, 2016 at 16:34

3 Answers 3

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In French, like in English, you can write a fraction horizontally or vertically. You use a barre de fraction ("fraction bar" in English) to separate the numerator from the denominator. When the fraction is written horizontally the barre de fraction is called a barre oblique ("fraction slash" or "fraction stroke" in English).

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  • I would also add barre de division. Note that your last sentence might be (mis)understood to mean an horizontal bar is a barre oblique, which is defying geometry ;-)
    – jlliagre
    Oct 31, 2016 at 6:47
  • @jlliagre Indeed. In case it could really be misunderstood I've repeated the word fraction. I did not mention barre de division because here I am not describing a mathematical operation but just naming an object. OP didn't ask for "division bar" but for "fraction (line)bar" .
    – None
    Nov 2, 2016 at 6:56
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Le trait ou barre de fraction ou vinculum signifie que l'on divise le numérateur par le dénominateur.

-- Wikipedia: Fraction (mathématiques)

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1

I've studied math and physics for a bunch of years, I've heard "barre de fraction" much, much more.

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