fraction
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fraction
A very small part or tiny amount of a whole. Often used to express that something happens very quickly or that something is very little.
Das Auto raste in einem Bruchteil einer Sekunde an uns vorbei.
The car raced past us in a fraction of a second.
fraction
In mathematics, a part of a whole that is expressed by a fraction (e.g., 1/4). The term 'Bruch' (fraction) is more common for this.
Fünfzig Cent sind nur ein Bruchteil von zehn Euro.
Fifty cents is only a fraction of ten euros.
The word 'Bruchteil' (fraction) is made up of 'Bruch' (part, fragment/fraction) and 'Teil' (part). So it literally means a part of a fraction and emphasizes that it is a very small amount.
Die Reparatur kostete nur einen Bruchteil des Neupreises.
The repair cost only a fraction of the price of a new one.
'Bruchteil' (fraction) is very often used with a noun in the genitive or with the preposition 'von' (of/from) to say what it is a small part of. The most common fixed expression is 'in einem Bruchteil einer Sekunde' (in a fraction of a second).
Der Unfall passierte in einem Bruchteil einer Sekunde.
The accident happened in a fraction of a second.
Although 'Bruchteil' can refer to a mathematical fraction, the shorter word 'Bruch' is usually used in technical terminology. 'Bruchteil' emphasizes more the aspect of 'kleiner Teil eines Ganzen' (small part of a whole).
Ein Viertel ist ein Bruchteil des Ganzen.
A quarter is a fraction of the whole.
part
Teil and Bruchteil can both refer to a smaller amount within a whole. On its own, Teil says nothing about how large the amount is. Bruchteil, by contrast, emphasizes that it is very small in relation to the whole.
Nur ein Bruchteil der angemeldeten Gäste kam zur Feier.
Only a fraction of the registered guests came to the celebration.
Ein Teil der angemeldeten Gäste kam zur Feier.
Some of the registered guests came to the celebration.
