[HM] practicality of Egyptian fractions

Richard Mankiewicz (richard@tutorcom.dircon.co.uk)
Thu, 26 Aug 1999 00:05:41 +0100

I am writing a short popular piece on Egyptian mathematics - its
very brevity makes it impossible to go into a full debate. I do
still have a problem describing how unit fractions would be used
in practical matters. The 'practical' problems in RMP are as
contrived as any modern textbook, but the answers must surely be
meaningful in the context they are given. But, for example, if I wish
to buy 2/5 of a loaf of bread how does it help writing it as 1/3 and
1/15? how does it help its weighing or slicing? Are there any
artefacts which might shed light on how day to day trading was
conducted? The Horus eye fractions, I think, were only used for
volumetric measures. Also, can the reduction to unit fractions be
seen as similar to our switching between fractions and their
decimal expansion - with the advantage that the Egyptian
expansions all terminate?

comments and assistance appreciated.

thanks

Richard Mankiewicz