Egyptian Fractions

The ancient Egyptians only used fractions of the form , called unit fractions.  While their mathematical notations allowed for , , and so on, their notation did not allow for or .
 Instead, they were able to write any fraction as a sum of unit fractions where all the unit fractions were different.

Examples:

Let's put this concept of Egyptian Fractions to work in Algebra.  See if  you can reduce each of the algebraic fractions below so that an Egyptian Fraction is formed on the left of the equal sign.  Write "NO" next to the problem if the pattern shown will not reduce to an Egyptian Fraction.

Problem: Answer:

 

 

 

 

 

                                        


 

 


Roberts