The Egyptians used unit fractions to describe all other fractions. Your class will rewrite rational expressions in order to deduce information about rational numbers. The activity starts with specific fractions, guides you through a few steps, then asks you to describe a procedure for writing any rational number as a sum of unit fractions. The historical element of this exercise adds an interesting flavor to the practice of simplifyinga rational expression.

Common Core

HSA-APR.D.6 MP1 MP2 MP7 MP8