# Why no 1/2 and 1/4 keys on computer keyboards? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 20, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-1-2-and-1-4-keys-on-computer-keyboards/572049 "2011-02-20T21:21:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-1-2-and-1-4-keys-on-computer-keyboards/572049/41 "2011-02-25T20:46:38Z")
Having keys for ¼, ½ and ¾ would have made sense in Britain when they were using farthings, so that you could express any money amount, e.g. 6¾d for six pence and three farthings. That’s the only context that occurs to me where you need those fractions and no others. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-1-2-and-1-4-keys-on-computer-keyboards/572049/42 "2011-02-25T22:20:09Z")
> [@Marc\_Xenos](#): > > ALT-0188 = ¼ > ALT-0189 = ½ > ALT-0162 = ¢ > ALT-0176 = ° (degrees) ALT-0169 = © is the one I remember and used to use a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-1-2-and-1-4-keys-on-computer-keyboards/572049/43 "2011-02-25T22:50:17Z")
> [@Marc\_Xenos](#): > > Looks like XP and later has something called Character Map Character Map has been part of Windows for as long as I can remember (i.e. 3.1). Does the use of the slash character as a fraction bar (as in something like “1/3”) predate computers? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-1-2-and-1-4-keys-on-computer-keyboards/572049/44 "2011-02-25T23:05:57Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Here’s a [pic of an old typewriter keyboard](http://adaptablearts.com/media/3/20080607-keyboard.jpg) and it does indeed have a 1/2 and 1/4 button. It also has a 3/4 key Where? I’m seeing the 1/2 and 1/4 keys but not the 3/4 one. Edit: Never mind. It’s sharing real estate with the / key. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-1-2-and-1-4-keys-on-computer-keyboards/572049/45 "2011-02-26T00:13:39Z")
Recipes. You use these keys A LOT when you type recipes. Which I do at least once or twice a week. I miss those keys from my typewriters! ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-1-2-and-1-4-keys-on-computer-keyboards/572049/46 "2011-02-26T02:43:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Surely part of the issue here is that (except in word processing contexts), numbers entered into a computer often need to be in a format suitable for calculation. There’s no reason why a computer can’t interpret (6½ + 3.53)/5¾, but it’s harder to implement. I have an HP 32SI RPN calculator that can do just that and as easily as entering all decimals. Those HP’s are wonderful machines [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-1-2-and-1-4-keys-on-computer-keyboards/572049.md?page=2)