Simplify completely problems 26 using a common denominator.
SHOW WORK!
| 2/3 + 1/2 |
| 5/12 - 1/4 |
| 6 | × | 15 | × | 77 |
| 35 | 22 | 9 |
| 35 | ÷ | 15 | × | 6 |
| 17 | 34 | 7 |
For problems 16-18:
Egyptian fraction is another name for unit fraction. In ancient
Egypt, these were the only fractions allowed. Other fractions between
zero and one were always expressed as a sum of distinct Egyptian
fractions. The greedy algorithm was commonly used to render
fractions, such as 3/5, into unit fractions.
The algorithm begins by finding two consecutive unit fractions that the
given fraction is between ( 1/2 < 3/5 < 1/1). Using the smallest
fraction, subtract it from the given fraction. This new number plus the
smaller fraction is the result. The greedy Egyption number for 3/5 is
1/2 + 1/10 (3/5 - 1/2 = 6/10 - 5/10 = 1/10). Of course, there is no
guarantee the result is a unit fraction, so more than 2 fractions may well
be required. (See MMPC 1996, part II, problem 1.)
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