Which statement best defines a mixed number?

Which statement best defines a mixed number?

• A. A number made up of a whole number that is not zero and a fraction.
• B. A decimal with a finite number of digits after the decimal point.
• C. A fraction where the numerator is greater than the denominator.
• D. A negative number written as a sum of terms.

Answer: (A)

A mixed number is a number that combines a whole number with a fraction, where the whole part is not zero and the fractional part is a proper fraction (less than one). For example, 3 4/5 means three whole units plus four-fifths. This structure—a nonzero whole number plus a fraction—is exactly what defines a mixed number, so the statement describing a number made up of a nonzero whole part and a fraction fits best. Decimals are different representations, an improper fraction has a numerator larger than the denominator, and a negative number written as a sum of terms could be a mixed-number form but isn’t the defining structure by itself.

A mixed number is a number that combines a whole number with a fraction, where the whole part is not zero and the fractional part is a proper fraction (less than one). For example, 3 4/5 means three whole units plus four-fifths. This structure—a nonzero whole number plus a fraction—is exactly what defines a mixed number, so the statement describing a number made up of a nonzero whole part and a fraction fits best. Decimals are different representations, an improper fraction has a numerator larger than the denominator, and a negative number written as a sum of terms could be a mixed-number form but isn’t the defining structure by itself.