This is not a question its just a note on something I read about ancient Egyptian fractions. The Egyptians of the second millennium BC based their system of fractions on those fractions with a numerator of 1. Though there were a few exceptions eg 2/3 and 3/4. All other fractions were based on unit fractions eg 5/7 = 1/2 + 1/7 + 1/14. Weird - give me the modern system any day lol.

Question

This is not a question its just a note on something I read about ancient Egyptian fractions.  The Egyptians of the second millennium BC  based their system of fractions  on those fractions with a numerator of 1. Though there were a few exceptions  eg 2/3 and 3/4. All other fractions were based on unit fractions eg 5/7 = 1/2 + 1/7 + 1/14.  Weird - give me the modern system any day lol.

cwrw238 · Answer

They know this from the Rhind Papyrus which is kept in the British museum. . They were'nt written in our present form but in hieroglyphs.