Egyptian Fractions: A Journey Through Ancient Mathematics
2024-12-18
This article explores the fascinating world of Egyptian fractions, a unique mathematical system used by ancient Egyptians. Unlike modern fractions, Egyptian fractions only use unit fractions (fractions with a numerator of 1) and all denominators must be distinct. The article traces the history of Egyptian fractions, focusing on the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus, and examines their practical applications, such as fairly dividing resources. It introduces the greedy algorithm for finding Egyptian fractions and methods for finding the shortest ones, also exploring related unsolved mathematical problems, including the Erdős–Straus conjecture.