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(18) 78. From what has been said the analogy between ratios & fractions is evident. The exponent of a ratio may be considered as a fraction: but instead of dividing ratios into proper & improper, the may be distinguished into ratios greater & less than than of equality or of 1 to 1. Thus the ratio of 3 to 2 is greater than that of equality; but the ratio of 2 to 3 is less. The exponent of the first will be an improper fraction & that of the second will be a proper one. And this analogy between ratios & fractions has led some authors to call the antecedant of a ratio its numerator, & the consequent its denominator. But these appellations are inconvenient in geometry; because it is certain that there are some ratios, such as