Spreadsheet Modelling as a Didactical Framework for Inequality-Based Reduction

This paper shows how inequalities can be utilized in reducing dimensionality of problems associated with the partition of unit fractions into the sums of two, three, and four like fractions. The need for such a reduction in this context stems from using a spreadsheet as a modelling tool. Activities described in this paper are grounded in standards for teaching and recommendations for teachers in North America. They are designed for prospective teachers of secondary mathematics. (Contains 4 figures.)