Page 28 - NUMINO Challenge_D2
P. 28
Basic Concepts An Ancient Egyptian Way of Sharing
A fraction such as 3 was expressed as the sum of unit fractions, 1 1 ,
4 2 4
in Egypt. Although the concept of fractions is different from what we use
today, the Egyptian concept of fractions is useful when sharing things equally.
For example, if four people want to share three pizzas equally, one person
should eat a piece of sliced pizza while others eat unsliced pizza if the pizzas
are divided as shown in Diagram 1. However, if the pizzas are divided as
shown in Diagram 2, which shows the Egyptians’ way of thinking, each
person eats 1 1 of the pizzas. In this way, all four people can eat equal
2 4
slices of pizza.
Diagram 1 Diagram 2
311
424
Example The following shows the ancient Egyptian fraction. Write the
fraction as a numerical fraction.
Class Notes written as a numerical fraction is .
represents .
represents , therefore
represents , therefore written as a numerical fraction is .
Therefore,
represents .
25Number and Operations
A fraction such as 3 was expressed as the sum of unit fractions, 1 1 ,
4 2 4
in Egypt. Although the concept of fractions is different from what we use
today, the Egyptian concept of fractions is useful when sharing things equally.
For example, if four people want to share three pizzas equally, one person
should eat a piece of sliced pizza while others eat unsliced pizza if the pizzas
are divided as shown in Diagram 1. However, if the pizzas are divided as
shown in Diagram 2, which shows the Egyptians’ way of thinking, each
person eats 1 1 of the pizzas. In this way, all four people can eat equal
2 4
slices of pizza.
Diagram 1 Diagram 2
311
424
Example The following shows the ancient Egyptian fraction. Write the
fraction as a numerical fraction.
Class Notes written as a numerical fraction is .
represents .
represents , therefore
represents , therefore written as a numerical fraction is .
Therefore,
represents .
25Number and Operations
