### Egyptian Fractions

The Egyptians expressed all fractions as the sum of different unit fractions. Here is a chance to explore how they could have written different fractions.

### Fractions of Fractions

Weekly Problem 44 - 2013
If you know that a fraction of X is the same as a different fraction of Y, can you work out X/Y?

### Leftovers

Weekly Problem 26 - 2008
If $n$ is a positive integer, how many different values for the remainder are obtained when $n^2$ is divided by $n+4$?

# Harmonic Triangle

##### Stage: 3 Challenge Level:

This is the start of the harmonic triangle:

\begin{array}{ccccccccccc} & & & & &\frac{1}{1} & & & & & \\ & & & & \frac{1}{2} & & \frac{1}{2} & & & & \\ & & & \frac{1}{3} & &\frac{1}{6} & & \frac{1}{3} & & & \\ & & \frac{1}{4} & &\frac{1}{12} & & \frac{1}{12} & & \frac{1}{4} & & \\ & \frac{1}{5} & & \frac{1}{20} & & \frac{1}{30} & & \frac{1}{20} & & \frac{1}{5} & \\ \frac{1}{6} & & \frac{1}{30} & & \frac{1}{60} & & \frac{1}{60} & & \frac{1}{30} & & \frac{1}{6}\\ & & & & & \ldots& & & & & \end{array}

Each fraction is equal to the sum of the two fractions below it.

Look at the triangle above and check that the rule really does work.

Can you work out the next two rows?

The $n$th row starts with the fraction $\frac{1}{n}$, so the first diagonal goes:

$\frac{1}{1}$, $\frac{1}{2}$, $\frac{1}{3}$, $\frac{1}{4}$...

Take a look at the second diagonal:

$\frac{1}{2}$, $\frac{1}{6}$, $\frac{1}{12}$, $\frac{1}{20}$...

Can you see a pattern?
What fraction will appear in the second position on the nth row?

Can you prove it?

What about the third and fourth diagonals?