Unlocking the Mystery of Egyptian Fractions: USCA Senior Shares Insights from Her Research

Shamreen Shakil Shaikh, a senior majoring in Computer Science at the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA), spent last summer working on a research project as part of USCA’s Summer Scholars Institute, led by the Center for Research and Excellence. With a long-standing passion for problem-solving, Shaikh felt that programming and technology were the perfect fit for her skills and interests.

With the guidance of her mentor, she completed her research-based project entitled “A search for Egyptian fractions using math and programming”. 

With support from the Department of Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics and USCA’s Dr. Tieling Chen, Shaikh conducted research exploring how Egyptian fractions differ from regular fractions, specifically noting that in Egyptian fractions, the numerator is always one.

Throughout the project, Shaikh tackled a series of mathematical problems, which she solved using a computer program she developed. After researching various mathematical concepts, she successfully integrated them into her program, enabling it to compute the correct answers.

Her long-term goal is to become a data scientist and believes that having the confidence to solve problems and strong analytical skills are essential to success in the field. “This mathematical research gave me valuable experience in the research process, which will be beneficial for my future career,” Shaikh explained.

As an undergraduate researcher, she recognizes the importance of mentorship, and the patience required to sift through materials necessary for a project.  Looking ahead, Shaikh plans to pursue a master’s degree in data science. “This path brings together math and computer science, which makes it the perfect way to combine my interests with my major.

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