What is the definition of a numerator in a fraction?

In a fraction, the numerator represents the number of parts being considered out of a total number of equal parts. It is located at the top of the fraction and indicates how many portions of the whole are being counted. For example, in the fraction 3/4, the number 3 is the numerator, meaning that 3 out of 4 equal parts are being taken into account. Understanding the role of the numerator is essential for performing operations with fractions, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, as it helps define the quantity represented by the fraction.