quotient
UK /ˈkwəʊʃənt/ · US /ˈkwoʊʃənt/ noun, verb
Forms quotients quotienting quotiented
- noun (arithmetic) The number (either a fraction or an integer) resulting from the division of one number by another. “Dividing 12 by 4 yields a quotient of 3.”
- noun (mathematics) By analogy, the result of any process that is the inverse of multiplication as defined for any mathematical entities other than numbers.
- noun (obsolete, rare) A quotum or quota.
- noun (cricket) The number of runs scored per wicket lost when batting, divided by the number of runs conceded per wicket taken when bowling — used as a league table tiebreaker in some first-class tournaments.
- noun (mathematics, group theory) A mathematical structure formed by identifying elements within a larger one.
- verb (mathematics, group theory) To identify elements within a mathematical structure so as to create a quotient.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin quotiēns, from quotiēs.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The number resulting from the division of one number by another, and showing how often a less number is contained in a greater; thus, the quotient of twelve divided by four is three.
- noun The result of any process inverse to multiplication. See the Note under Multiplication.
Etymology [F., fr. L. quoties how often, how many times, fr. quot how many. See Quota.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “quotient”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details