# Represent improper fraction as a sum of unique unit fractions

Is it possible to represent an improper fraction as a finite sum of unique unit fractions (Egyptian fractions)?

• See this question. – Dietrich Burde Mar 27 '17 at 18:53
• You know the result for rational numbers less than $1$ and you ask if it holds above $1$? – lulu Mar 27 '17 at 18:57
• @DietrichBurde, thank you for the link, but the answer provided works for 0 < x < 1, whereas I am asking for improper fractions. – Alderson Mar 27 '17 at 18:57
• @lulu, yes, that's exactly what I am asking, thanks – Alderson Mar 27 '17 at 19:01

Yes. Start with $\alpha \in \mathbb Q$, $\alpha >1$. Then let $n$ be the greatest integer such that $$H_n=\sum_{i=1}^n\frac 1i<\alpha$$
Of course $n$ exists because the infinite Harmonic series diverges.
It follows that $\alpha - H_n<\frac 1n$ so none of the fractions in the standard Egyptian decomposition of $\alpha - H_n$ can appear in $H_n$.
• This doesn't show uniqueness! Uniqueness isn't even true... $\frac 32 = 1 +\frac 12=1+\frac 13 +\frac 16$ – lulu Mar 27 '17 at 19:11