Fjerdedelen

Fjerdedelen is a noun used to denote one fourth of a whole. In mathematics it corresponds to the fraction 1/4 and is used to describe proportional parts of quantities, groups, or sets. In everyday language the term appears as en fjerdedel for an unspecified one quarter; in the definite form it becomes fjerdedelen when referring to a particular quarter. The plural form is fjerdedeler and is used for multiple quarters, for example to describe two quarters of the population.

Etymology: The word is formed from fire (four) and del (part, share), with the suffix -del/-delen indicating a portion. The indefinite form is en fjerdedel, the definite singular is fjerdedelen, and the plural form is fjerdedeler in common usage.

Usage: The concept is common in arithmetic, statistics, and everyday calculations. It is used to describe shares in property or income, where someone may own fjerdedeler of an asset. In modern Norwegian, Bokmål, the same idea is often expressed as 1/4 or 0.25.

History: Fraction terminology such as fjerdedelen has long been part of European mathematical language. In historical records, fjerdedeler could denote a quarter portion of an estate or common property; exact usage depended on time and jurisdiction.

See also: Fractions, Quarter, Fourth.