Direct Answer
Fractional odds (e.g. 5/2) express profit relative to stake. A 5/2 winner returns $5 profit for every $2 staked, plus the original stake back. They are the traditional UK and horse-racing format.
Key Takeaways
- Numerator = profit; denominator = stake.
- Implied = denom / (num + denom).
- Most common in UK and horse racing.
Reading the price
Numerator / denominator. 5/2 means 5 profit per 2 staked. Even money is 1/1 (or 'evens'). 1/2 means 1 profit per 2 staked — a strong favorite.
Converting
Implied probability = denominator / (numerator + denominator). 5/2 implies 28.6%. Decimal = (numerator / denominator) + 1. 5/2 = 3.50.
Frequently asked questions
How do I read 11/4?+
$11 profit per $4 staked. Implied probability ≈ 26.7%, decimal ≈ 3.75.
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