private Fraction parseNumerals(String item){
        // create variables
        int num, denom;

        // create Scanner
        Scanner s2 = new Scanner(item);
        s2.useDelimiter("/");
        
        // get 1st integer
        num = s2.nextInt();
        
        // check for 2nd integer & return Fraction
        if(s2.hasNext()){
            denom = s2.nextInt();
            return new Fraction(num, denom);
        }
        else{
            return new Fraction(num, 1);
        }
    }