Aliquot ratio

aliquot fraction

A fraction of the type $1/n$, where $n$ is a natural number. It is essential, in solving several physical and mathematical problems, that each positive rational number is representable as a sum of a finite number of aliquot ratios, with different denominators. Thus, $3/11=1/6+1/11+1/66$. Aliquot ratios were extensively employed in Ancient Egypt and, as a result, received the name of Egyptian fractions.