Data and Math

vfraction

Exact fractions that stay reduced, so you never tidy them by hand.

Released v1.0.0 · 2026-09-28

Import

use "stdlib/fraction.ven"

Exact fractions as their own shape, with a numerator and a denominator field, kept reduced automatically rather than left for the caller to simplify by hand. It is built from ordinary integer arithmetic, with no native rational number type underneath it yet, and covers addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and comparison.

vfraction.ven

f = Fraction(2, 4)
print f.numerator
:: prints: 2
print f.denominator
:: prints: 4

Reference (16 functions)

frac_gcd
frac_new
frac_coerce
frac_add
frac_subtract
frac_multiply
frac_divide
frac_negate
frac_reciprocal
frac_equals
frac_is_zero
frac_less_than
frac_compare
frac_to_number
frac_from_text
frac_display

API reference

`frac_gcd(a, b)`

Gives the greatest common divisor of a and b via the Euclidean algorithm.

frac_gcd(48, 18)
:: gives 6

`frac_new(numerator, denominator)`

Builds a Fraction reduced to lowest terms, with a positive denominator.

print(frac_display(frac_new(2, 4)))
:: prints: 1/2

`frac_coerce(value)`

Coerces a plain integer Number or an existing Fraction into a Fraction.

print(frac_display(frac_coerce(5)))
:: prints: 5

`frac_add(a, b)`

Adds two Fractions (or a Fraction and a plain integer Number).

print(frac_display(frac_add(frac_new(1, 2), frac_new(1, 3))))
:: prints: 5/6

`frac_subtract(a, b)`

Subtracts b from a (or a plain integer Number from a Fraction).

print(frac_display(frac_subtract(frac_new(1, 2), frac_new(1, 3))))
:: prints: 1/6

`frac_multiply(a, b)`

Multiplies two Fractions (or a Fraction and a plain integer Number).

print(frac_display(frac_multiply(frac_new(2, 3), frac_new(3, 4))))
:: prints: 1/2

`frac_divide(a, b)`

Divides a by b (or a Fraction by a plain integer Number).

print(frac_display(frac_divide(frac_new(1, 2), frac_new(1, 4))))
:: prints: 2

`frac_negate(f)`

Negates a Fraction, flipping the sign of its numerator.

print(frac_display(frac_negate(frac_new(3, 4))))
:: prints: -3/4

`frac_reciprocal(f)`

Gives the reciprocal of a Fraction, swapping numerator and denominator.

print(frac_display(frac_reciprocal(frac_new(3, 4))))
:: prints: 4/3

`frac_equals(a, b)`

Tests two Fractions (or a Fraction and a plain integer Number) for equality.

frac_equals(frac_new(1, 2), frac_new(2, 4))
:: gives yes

`frac_is_zero(f)`

Tests whether a Fraction is exactly zero.

frac_is_zero(frac_new(0, 5))
:: gives yes

`frac_less_than(a, b)`

Tests whether a is strictly less than b (or a plain integer Number).

frac_less_than(frac_new(1, 3), frac_new(1, 2))
:: gives yes

`frac_compare(a, b)`

Three-way compares a against b (or a plain integer Number).

frac_compare(frac_new(1, 2), frac_new(1, 3))
:: gives 1

`frac_to_number(f)`

Converts a Fraction to the nearest Number, via true division.

frac_to_number(frac_new(1, 4))
:: gives 0.25

`frac_from_text(text)`

print(frac_display(frac_from_text("3/4")))
:: prints: 3/4

`frac_display(f)`

print(frac_display(frac_from_text("5")))
:: prints: 5

API reference

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