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Egyptian Fraction Problem | Greedy Algorithms: Overview and Examples
Greedy Algorithms using Python
course content

Course Content

Greedy Algorithms using Python

Greedy Algorithms using Python

1. Greedy Algorithms: Overview and Examples
2. Greedy on Arrays
3. Greedy on Graphs

bookEgyptian Fraction Problem

Ancient Egyptians represented each positive fraction as the sum of unique unit fractions. For example, 7/15 = 1/3 + 1/8 + 1/120, or 2/3 = 1/2 + 1/6, or 1/7 = 1/7.

So, your goal is to find such a representation for the number n/m, m, n>0.

That can be reached by using the Greedy Approach. Each time, try to “bite” the number as big as possible to reduce the current value. Let’s look at the 7/15:

  • N = 7/15 >= 1/3 – this is the maximum unit fraction we can reach, add it to the answer.
  • Now, update the number we’re solving problem for: N = 7/15 – 1/3 = 2/15.
  • N = 2/15 >= 1/8 – next maximum unit fraction, add to the answer.
  • Update N: N = 2/15 – 1/8 = 1/120.
  • N = 1/120 >= 1/120 - add to the answer.
  • Update N = 0 -> stop the algorithm.

So, to sum up:

  1. Check if the current N == 0. If it is, stop the algorithm.
  2. Find the biggest unit fraction less than N and add it to the ans
  3. Update value of N by reducing.

The answer is an array f of numbers f[0], f[1], ... , f[t], where f[i] is a divider for fraction 1/f[i]. For our example, answer is [3, 8, 120].

How to find the biggest possible unit fraction It can be easily done for N = n/m by calculating k = math.ceil(m/n). Greater values of k do not give the maximum unit fraction (since, for example, 1/k > 1/(k+1)).

Task

Add some code to the function and test it.

Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
Everything was clear?

How can we improve it?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 1. Chapter 5
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bookEgyptian Fraction Problem

Ancient Egyptians represented each positive fraction as the sum of unique unit fractions. For example, 7/15 = 1/3 + 1/8 + 1/120, or 2/3 = 1/2 + 1/6, or 1/7 = 1/7.

So, your goal is to find such a representation for the number n/m, m, n>0.

That can be reached by using the Greedy Approach. Each time, try to “bite” the number as big as possible to reduce the current value. Let’s look at the 7/15:

  • N = 7/15 >= 1/3 – this is the maximum unit fraction we can reach, add it to the answer.
  • Now, update the number we’re solving problem for: N = 7/15 – 1/3 = 2/15.
  • N = 2/15 >= 1/8 – next maximum unit fraction, add to the answer.
  • Update N: N = 2/15 – 1/8 = 1/120.
  • N = 1/120 >= 1/120 - add to the answer.
  • Update N = 0 -> stop the algorithm.

So, to sum up:

  1. Check if the current N == 0. If it is, stop the algorithm.
  2. Find the biggest unit fraction less than N and add it to the ans
  3. Update value of N by reducing.

The answer is an array f of numbers f[0], f[1], ... , f[t], where f[i] is a divider for fraction 1/f[i]. For our example, answer is [3, 8, 120].

How to find the biggest possible unit fraction It can be easily done for N = n/m by calculating k = math.ceil(m/n). Greater values of k do not give the maximum unit fraction (since, for example, 1/k > 1/(k+1)).

Task

Add some code to the function and test it.

Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
Everything was clear?

How can we improve it?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 1. Chapter 5
toggle bottom row

bookEgyptian Fraction Problem

Ancient Egyptians represented each positive fraction as the sum of unique unit fractions. For example, 7/15 = 1/3 + 1/8 + 1/120, or 2/3 = 1/2 + 1/6, or 1/7 = 1/7.

So, your goal is to find such a representation for the number n/m, m, n>0.

That can be reached by using the Greedy Approach. Each time, try to “bite” the number as big as possible to reduce the current value. Let’s look at the 7/15:

  • N = 7/15 >= 1/3 – this is the maximum unit fraction we can reach, add it to the answer.
  • Now, update the number we’re solving problem for: N = 7/15 – 1/3 = 2/15.
  • N = 2/15 >= 1/8 – next maximum unit fraction, add to the answer.
  • Update N: N = 2/15 – 1/8 = 1/120.
  • N = 1/120 >= 1/120 - add to the answer.
  • Update N = 0 -> stop the algorithm.

So, to sum up:

  1. Check if the current N == 0. If it is, stop the algorithm.
  2. Find the biggest unit fraction less than N and add it to the ans
  3. Update value of N by reducing.

The answer is an array f of numbers f[0], f[1], ... , f[t], where f[i] is a divider for fraction 1/f[i]. For our example, answer is [3, 8, 120].

How to find the biggest possible unit fraction It can be easily done for N = n/m by calculating k = math.ceil(m/n). Greater values of k do not give the maximum unit fraction (since, for example, 1/k > 1/(k+1)).

Task

Add some code to the function and test it.

Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
Everything was clear?

How can we improve it?

Thanks for your feedback!

Ancient Egyptians represented each positive fraction as the sum of unique unit fractions. For example, 7/15 = 1/3 + 1/8 + 1/120, or 2/3 = 1/2 + 1/6, or 1/7 = 1/7.

So, your goal is to find such a representation for the number n/m, m, n>0.

That can be reached by using the Greedy Approach. Each time, try to “bite” the number as big as possible to reduce the current value. Let’s look at the 7/15:

  • N = 7/15 >= 1/3 – this is the maximum unit fraction we can reach, add it to the answer.
  • Now, update the number we’re solving problem for: N = 7/15 – 1/3 = 2/15.
  • N = 2/15 >= 1/8 – next maximum unit fraction, add to the answer.
  • Update N: N = 2/15 – 1/8 = 1/120.
  • N = 1/120 >= 1/120 - add to the answer.
  • Update N = 0 -> stop the algorithm.

So, to sum up:

  1. Check if the current N == 0. If it is, stop the algorithm.
  2. Find the biggest unit fraction less than N and add it to the ans
  3. Update value of N by reducing.

The answer is an array f of numbers f[0], f[1], ... , f[t], where f[i] is a divider for fraction 1/f[i]. For our example, answer is [3, 8, 120].

How to find the biggest possible unit fraction It can be easily done for N = n/m by calculating k = math.ceil(m/n). Greater values of k do not give the maximum unit fraction (since, for example, 1/k > 1/(k+1)).

Task

Add some code to the function and test it.

Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
Section 1. Chapter 5
Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
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