COMMON DENOMINATOR Definition & Meaning

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common denominator

noun

Mathematics. a number that is a multiple of all the denominators of a set of fractions.
a trait, characteristic, belief, or the like common to or shared by all members of a group:
Dedication to the cause of freedom was the common denominator of the American revolutionaries.

common denominator

noun

an integer exactly divisible by each denominator of a group of fractions: 1 3 , 1 4 , and 1 6 have a common denominator of 12
a belief, attribute, etc, held in common by members of a class or group

common denominator

A quantity into which all the denominators of a set of fractions may be divided without a remainder. For example, the fractions 1 3 and 2 5 have a common denominator of 15.

common denominator

A number that will allow fractions with different denominators to be converted into fractions with the same denominator, so that these fractions can be added or subtracted. The fractions can be expressed as whole numbers divided by the common denominator. Thus, 12 is a common denominator for 1/3 and 1/4, since they can be written as 4/12 and 3/12, respectively. ( See lowest common denominator .)

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Notes

Figuratively, a common denominator is a common factor in different events: “The common denominator in these crimes is the use of inside knowledge of computer ��ٱ𳾲�.”

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of common denominator¹

First recorded in 1585–95

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He was described in court as the "common denominator" - having been charged with planning and transferring criminal property, as well as burglary.

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Now that fires from Pacific Palisades to Altadena to Castaic have finally subsided, thousands upon thousands of residents are returning to a life dispossessed of its least common denominators.

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The common denominator between music right now that’s popular, whether it’s indie music or pop music or rock music, is honesty and humor.

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"My hope is that this will lead to a new class of drugs that restore protein mobility, which could help people with many different diseases that all have this mechanism as a common denominator."

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There are few common denominators: Eighteen suffered from addiction to alcohol or drugs; the rest did not.

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