Mathwords logoReference LibraryMathwords

Vinculum

Vinculum

The horizontal line drawn as part of a fraction or radical, such as Fraction (a + b) divided by (a − b), with a vinculum (horizontal bar) separating numerator and denominator. or Square root of (a plus b), written as √(a + b) with a vinculum over the expression a + b.

Note: The vinculum serves the same function as parentheses, so we do not have to write The fraction (a + b) divided by (a − b), with a vinculum (horizontal bar) separating numerator and denominator. or Square root of (a plus b), shown with a vinculum extending over the expression a plus b.