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by 082349872349872 1400 days ago
Note that fractions of the form 1/n + 1/m + ... make equity obvious for non-arithmetically sophisticated populations.

Given 3 loaves of bread, and 4 workers eating lunch, we'd probably be fine if 3 of them got 3/4 loaf each and the last got the 3 1/4 slices. To make the fairness of the distribution obvious, the Egyptians might have given all 4 workers the same pair of slices: 1/2 + 1/4.

(Note that for less fungible items, there still might be some practicality in the ancient Egyptian system: if we have 3 5 meter ladders to divide between 4 people, giving everyone one 2,5 meter ladder and one 1,25m would be much fairer than giving 3 people a 3,75m ladder but the 4th three 1,25m ladders.)