The Egyptians and Unit Fractions

The video explores the legend of Horace's eye and its symbolism in ancient Egypt. It discusses the historical use of fractions over 4000 years ago, particularly in dividing land and calculating taxes. The Egyptian system of unit fractions, which only used numerators of one, is explained, highlighting its complexity and the challenges it posed. This practice persisted through Greek and Roman times until the Middle Ages. The video concludes by explaining why modern fractions are called vulgar fractions, as they do not align with the ancient belief in wholeness symbolized by Horace's eye.

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