Math Series #3 (Cutting up fractions)

The fraction 1 24 \frac {1}{24} can be expressed as a sum of 3 3 different fractions. What are one of those? (Hint: Don't use a calculator and try to find a formula for this)

1/24 + 1/120 + 1/240 1/48 + 1/96 + 1/96 1/48 + 1/72 + 1/120 1/108 + 1/72 + 1/54

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1 solution

Avner Lim
Mar 5, 2021

If a number x x has three factors a a , b b , and c c , 1 x = a x × ( a + b + c ) + b x × ( a + b + c ) + c x × ( a + b + c ) \frac {1}{x} = \frac {a}{x \times (a + b + c)} + \frac {b}{x \times (a + b + c)} + \frac {c}{x \times (a + b + c)} . Since x = 24 x = 24 and it can be expressed as 2 × 3 × 4 2 \times 3 \times 4 , 1 24 = 2 24 × ( 2 + 3 + 4 ) + 3 24 × ( 2 + 3 + 4 ) + 4 24 × ( 2 + 3 + 4 ) = 1 108 + 1 72 + 1 54 \frac {1}{24} = \frac {2}{24 \times (2 + 3 + 4)} + \frac {3}{24 \times (2 + 3 + 4)} + \frac {4}{24 \times (2 + 3 + 4)} = \boxed{\frac {1}{108} + \frac {1}{72} + \frac {1}{54}} .

You said that a number x has three prime factors a, b and c but then 24 has been factorized into 2 x 3 x 4. But 4 is not a prime factor.

Vijay Simha - 3 months, 1 week ago

Sorry for the typo, I have corrected it. Thanks!

Avner Lim - 3 months, 1 week ago

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