The word "tenth part" is spelled with the consonant cluster "nth" in the middle. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is /tɛnθ pɑrt/. The combination of the letters "th" represents the voiceless dental fricative sound, which is produced by placing the tip of the tongue against the top front teeth and forcing a stream of air out. The "n" sound in "tenth" and "part" is pronounced with the tongue touching the alveolar ridge behind the upper teeth.
A "tenth part" refers to a division of something into ten equal portions or segments. It is a measurement or fraction that represents one of the ten equal parts into which a whole can be divided.
In mathematics, a tenth part is commonly denoted as 1/10 or 0.1. It signifies a proportional amount or fraction of the whole, where the numerator represents one unit or segment out of a total of ten equal units. For instance, if there is a pie divided into ten slices, each slice would represent a tenth part of the whole. This concept helps in comparing the relative size, value, or proportion of a specific part to the whole.
The idea of a tenth part is not limited to mathematics. It can also be used to describe divisions or shares of things that are not explicitly quantifiable. In this context, a tenth part could signify a specific fraction or share of ownership, profit, or responsibility. For example, if people collectively own a company, someone with a tenth part of the business indicates they possess a 10% share.
Overall, a tenth part represents a division or fraction that captures one of the ten equal segments forming a whole, whether it is in mathematics or other areas.
The word "tenth" originates from the Old English word "teotha", which comes from the Proto-Germanic word "*tehuntha". This Germanic root is related to other words for "ten" in various Germanic languages, such as the Gothic "taíhun" and the Old High German "zehanto". It ultimately traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*dekm", meaning "ten".
The word "part" comes from the Old French word "part", which is derived from the Latin word "pars". The Latin term "pars" has the same meaning as "part" and has its origin in the Proto-Indo-European root "*per-", which means "to grant" or "to assign". This root gave rise to various words related to division and sharing in different Indo-European languages.