I decided to solve y=27/6 using the Egyptian method. Starting with doubling:
1x6=6
2x6=12
4x6=24
8x6=48
We stop here because 48 is larger than 27. The only numbers that we can combine and not exceed 27 is 24 alone. Even 24+6=30. Therefor, the whole number part of y is 4.
27-24=3, so we are currently missing 3. Now onto the halving:
(1/2)x6=3
After only one iteration, we have found the missing 3, and we get it by adding (1/2) to y. Therefore,
y=4 +1/2 = 4.5
Hi Evan, great explanation of the steps. I wonder if you might share your thinking around the technique. What do you like about it?
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