Related papers: Egyptian Fractions
The number of solutions of the diophantine equation $\sum_{i=1}^k \frac{1}{x_i}=1,$ in particular when the $x_i$ are distinct odd positive integers is investigated. The number of solutions $S(k)$ in this case is, for odd $k$: \[\exp \left(…
One is expressed as the sum of the reciprocals of a certain set of integers. We give an elegant proof to the fact applying the polynomial theorem and basic calculus.
By means of partial fraction method, we investigate the decomposition of rational functions. Several striking identities on harmonic numbers and generalized Apery numbers will be established, including the binomial-harmonic number identity…
For h=3 or 4, Egyptian decompositions into h unit fractions, like 2/D = 1/D1 + ... +1/Dh, were given by using (h-1) divisors (di) of D1. This ancient modus operandi, well recognized today, provides Di=DD1/di for i greater than 1.…
We present a comprehensive survey of constructions of the real numbers (from either the rationals or the integers) in a unified fashion, thus providing an overview of most (if not all) known constructions ranging from the earliest attempts…
This paper provides bounds for the number of terms, denoted by $f$, of a harmonic sum with the condition that it starts from any arbitrary unit fraction $\frac{1}{m}$, $m > 1$, until another unit fraction $\frac{1}{m+f-1}$ such that the sum…
From the Rhind Papyrus and other extant sources, we know that the ancient Egyptians were very iterested in expressing a given fraction into a sum of unit fractions, that is fractions whose numerators are equal to 1. One of the problems that…
Any rational number can be factored into a product of several rationals whose sum vanishes. This simple but nontrivial fact was suggested as a problem on a maths olympiad for high-school students. We completely solve similar questions in…
We prove that any positive rational number is the sum of distinct unit fractions with denominators in $\{p-1 : p\textrm{ prime}\}$. The same conclusion holds for the set $\{p-h : p\textrm{ prime}\}$ for any $h\in\mathbb{Z}\backslash\{0\}$,…
The problem of writing a totally positive element as a sum of squares has a long history in mathematics, going back to Bachet and Lagrange. While for some specific rings (like integers or polynomials over the rationals), there are known…
Paul Erd\H{o}s posed a problem on the asymptotic estimation of decomposing 1 into a sum of infinitely many unit fractions in \cite{Erd80}. We point out that this problem can be solved in the same way as the finite case, as shown in…
In this article we present ways to evaluate certain sums, products and continued fractions using tools from the theory of elliptic functions. The specific results appear to be new, although similar ones can be found in the leterature; in…
In this paper, we investigate the representations of rational numbers via continued fraction, Egyptian fraction, and Engel fraction expansions. Given $m \in \mathbb{N}$, denote by $C_m, E_m, E_m^*$ the sets of rational numbers whose…
A decomposition of a natural number n is a sequence of consecutive natural numbers that sums to n. We construct a one-to-one correspondence between the odd factors of a natural number and its decompositions. We study the decompositions by…
This work is an analytical and numerical study of the composition of several fractals into one and of the relation between the composite dimension and the dimensions of the component fractals. In the case of composition of standard IFS with…
We will discuss about a possible method of using the cubit rod by the architects and the surveyors of Ancient Egypt to measure and draw lengths, comparing it with the other interpretations present in Literature. Instead of the modern…
We solve an elementary number theory problem on sums of fractional parts, using methods from group theory. We apply our result to deduce the finiteness of certain monodromy representations.
The main purpose of this paper is to prove that the positive real numbers can be decomposed into finitely many disjoint pieces which are also closed under addition and multiplication. As a byproduct of the argument we determine all the…
In the paper, I considered construction of algebra of fractions of algebra with conjugation. I also considered algebra of polynomials and algebra of rational mappings over algebra with conjugation.
The focus of this note is to formulate the algorithms and give the examples used by Fibonacci in Liber Abaci to expand any fraction into a sum of unit fractions. The description in Liber Abaci is all verbal and the examples are numbers…