quotient

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'quotient' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a noun that refers to a mathematical expression that is the result of dividing one quantity by another. For example, "The quotient of 12 divided by 3 is 4."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

38=round(1958/4/13,0) which was birthday #2, being April 13 , 1958described as a double quotient, and 63 is the Lucky Number.

WikiHow

Even if it can be established that, on average, women have a higher "emotional-intelligence quotient" than men, that says little about any specific woman.

The Economist

The only way to achieve real balance is to reduce the power quotient on the American side.Mr Obama is an avid appointer of unaccountable policy "tsars" who benefit from the kind of "democratic deficit" so notoriously enjoyed by EU leaders.

The Economist

To raise the hipness quotient, he hired Tim Henning from Vans, a maker of skateboarding shoes and clothes, as the team's new merchandise director, and started to sell logo-bearing goods in shops outside the arena, including a new line of women's clothing.In this section A Maverick in more ways than one Radiating value A kinder, gentler gorilla?

The Economist

But rather than by the quotient of the net savings rate over the growth rate, future inequality could be driven by an increasingly unequal distribution of income.

The Economist

Tribal members will also debate whether to relax the "blood quotient" that decides membership.

The Economist

Still, the accuracy of analysts' earnings-per-share forecasts should offer a rough guide to how valuable their research is to the investor.One European firm, AQ (short for accuracy quotient) Publications, has been rating equity analysts at stockbroking firms and investment banks for three years, using data provided by First Call/Thomson Financial.

The Economist

Yet Dr Mahathir at times subscribed to an almost colonial view of the indolent Malay as unenterprising, shiftless and, as he put it in an article quoted in the book, of "a low average intelligence quotient".

The Economist

"Shinola represents companies who trade on Detroit's current hipness quotient," says the curator.

The Economist

It requires as much of a high EQ, or "emotional quotient," as a solid IQ.

The Economist

One Clintonologist argues that she has "a high usefulness quotient": it is only useful people she cosies up to.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about mathematical concepts, ensure that the term "quotient" is used in the correct context to avoid ambiguity. Always clarify what is being divided by what.

Common error

Avoid using "quotient" interchangeably with terms like 'dividend' or 'divisor'. The "quotient" specifically refers to the result obtained after division, not the numbers being divided.

Linguistic Context

The word "quotient" functions primarily as a noun, referring to the result of a division operation. As illustrated by Ludwig, it can also be used metaphorically to describe other types of results or measures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "quotient" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun that primarily refers to the result of a division operation. According to Ludwig, it is also used metaphorically to describe the outcome of other processes. Its usage spans from formal mathematical and scientific contexts to more informal discussions in news and media. While it is essential to use "quotient" accurately to avoid confusion with related terms like 'dividend' or 'divisor', its metaphorical applications add versatility to its usage. Overall, "quotient" is a versatile term that remains valuable in both technical and general writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

result of division

Focuses on the outcome of the division operation, rather than the mathematical term itself.

division result

Emphasizes that it's a result derived from division.

ratio

Indicates the relationship between two quantities, similar to the concept of a quotient.

outcome of dividing

Describes the process and its result.

mathematical ratio

Specifically highlights the mathematical context and the concept of ratio.

resultant value

A more general term for the outcome of a calculation or process.

fractional result

Focuses on the fractional representation that can be derived from division.

proportionality

Highlights the proportional relationship implied by division.

the amount obtained by dividing

A more verbose description of the mathematical process of calculating a quotient.

relative proportion

Emphasizes the relationship between two values after division.

FAQs

How is "quotient" used in mathematics?

In mathematics, "quotient" refers to the result obtained after dividing one number by another. For example, in the division 10 ÷ 2 = 5, the "quotient" is 5.

What's the difference between "quotient" and "ratio"?

While both terms relate to division, "quotient" is the direct result of dividing two numbers, whereas "ratio" expresses the proportional relationship between two quantities. A "quotient" is a specific value, while a "ratio" is a comparison.

Are there non-mathematical uses of "quotient"?

Yes, "quotient" can be used metaphorically to describe the result of a process akin to division. For instance, one might speak of a 'hipness quotient' to describe a subjective measure of coolness. However, mathematical usages are most common.

What are some alternative ways to say "quotient"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as "result of division", "division result", or "ratio". The best alternative depends on the specific meaning you want to convey.