½
Vulgar Fraction One Half
The one-half symbol (½) represents the fundamental fraction of equal division, essential for cooking, measurements, mathematics, and everyday proportional thinking.
Technical Details
- ASCII Code
- 189
- HTML Entity
- ½
- Hexadecimal
- 0xBD
- Binary
- 10111101
- Octal
- 275
Usage & Examples
Programming
char symbol = '½'; // ASCII 189HTML/Web
½ or ½Common Uses
How to Type This Character
Windows
Mac
💡 Pro tip: The fastest way is to bookmark this page or copy the character from our ASCII library!
Related Characters
About the Vulgar Fraction One Half
Culinary Applications
Indispensable in cooking and baking where precise measurements determine recipe success. The half symbol appears in ingredient lists, portion sizes, and nutritional information, making it essential for food preparation and dietary planning.
Mathematical Foundation
Represents the most basic fraction concept, teaching proportional thinking and decimal relationships (0.5). Essential for introducing fractions in education and fundamental to understanding ratios, percentages, and mathematical literacy.
Measurement Systems
Critical for imperial measurements (½ inch, ½ pound) and metric approximations. Enables precise specification in manufacturing, construction, and scientific measurements where half-units are standard.
Everyday Usage
Appears in time expressions (half past), pricing (½ price), and common descriptions that require proportional language. The symbol facilitates clear communication of divided quantities across cultures.
History of the Vulgar Fraction One Half
Ancient Fractions
Ancient Egyptian mathematics used fraction notation for practical calculations, with half being the most fundamental division concept in early civilizations.
Greek Mathematics
Greek mathematicians formalized fraction notation and geometric concepts of division, establishing half as a fundamental mathematical relationship.
Medieval Manuscripts
Medieval scribes developed abbreviated notation for common fractions, with half being among the first to receive symbolic representation in mathematical texts.
Printing Press
Early printed books standardized fraction symbols including ½, making mathematical notation consistent across European education and commerce.
Unicode Development
Modern character encoding systems included the half symbol, ensuring its availability in digital typography and computer systems worldwide.
Cultural Impact
The half symbol embodies the human understanding of equal division and fairness, representing concepts of balance, sharing, and proportional thinking that are fundamental to social cooperation and mathematical literacy.
Usage Examples
Cooking & Recipes
ExampleStandard culinary measurements and ingredient specifications
Time & Scheduling
ExampleTime expressions and duration specifications
Mathematics Education
ExampleFundamental fraction concepts and mathematical relationships
Measurements
ExampleImperial and metric measurement specifications