Final answer:
Fractional sections in the rectangular survey system along the northern or western borders of a check that are less than a quarter-section in area are called irregular sections.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fractional sections in the rectangular survey system along the northern or western borders of a check that are less than a quarter-section in area are called irregular sections.
The rectangular survey system, also known as the public land survey system, was introduced in the United States to divide and sell land in an orderly manner. Under this system, townships were subdivided into sections, which were further subdivided into quarter-sections. However, in cases where the size of a section along the border was less than a quarter-section, it was referred to as an irregular section. These irregular sections occurred when the shape of the township boundary did not align neatly with the one-square-mile sections.
For example, if the northern or western border of a township had a shape that deviated from a straight line, the resulting fractional sections would be irregular sections. These irregular sections were typically smaller than a quarter-section in area, and their presence contributed to the irregularity and complexity of land division in certain regions.