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- Egyptians used fractions in trade and building. They mainly worked with unit fractions (fractions with 1 as the numerator, like 1/2 or 1/3.
- The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus contains examples of how they represented fractions by adding unit fractions (e.g., 3/4=1/2+1/4).
- Egyptians used fractions in trade and building. They mainly worked with unit fractions (fractions with 1 as the numerator, like 1/2 or 1/3.
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- Babylonians used a base-60 system, making fractions similar to decimals but with 60 as the base instead of 10. This system influences how we measure time (e.g., 60 minutes = 1 hour).
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Greek mathematicians used fractions to explore ratios in music and geometry.
- They saw fractions as ratios of whole numbers, like 2/3, to compare lengths or areas. -
- Indian mathematicians like Aryabhata used fractions in astronomy and developed rules for adding and multiplying them.
- They introduced the concept of fractions with a numerator and denominator written one above the other, separated by a line (the format we use today).
- Indian mathematicians like Aryabhata used fractions in astronomy and developed rules for adding and multiplying them.
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- Scholars like Al-Khwarizmi used fractions in algebra and equations, spreading knowledge of fractions to Europe.
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- Middle Ages (c. 1200 CE):
- European mathematicians like Leonardo of Pisa (Fibonacci) learned about fractions from Arabic scholars and introduced them to Europe in books like Liber Abaci.
- Middle Ages (c. 1200 CE):
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- 1600s Fractions were formalized further during the Renaissance, with rules for operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division becoming standardized. Modern Fractions
- Fractions are now a fundamental part of mathematics, used in everything from dividing pizzas to solving complex scientific problems. They've also evolved into related concepts like decimals and percentages.