Odd math question

[bmacd]

This is my buddy's question:

****************
My roomate and I were arguing about the best way to cut a frozen pizza into 4ths so that the 4 peices are closest to equal.

I said, if you can eyeball it so it looks pretty close to equal 4ths then taking the peices across from each other would be the best way to get almost equal halfs of the pizza.

Here is a crappy diagram if that doesnt make sense:

\ 1/
2 \/ 2
/
/1 \


Obviouisly those peices are close to being equal, but if I ate both pieces labeled 1, and he ate both pieces labeled 2.

But what i was trying to say is that if the peices are cut fairly close to equal 4ths but slightly off, eating the pieces across from each will be the closest way to get equal halves.

Does anyone know if there is a math formula that we could use to settle this argument. Trig was a long time ago.

*************

Thanks,

-=bmacd=-

 

[imported_LoKe]

Just cut it in the form of a + and be done with it.

But in your method, the pieces directly across from eachother are equal; so take one of each.

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: bmacd
This is my buddy's question:

****************
My roomate and I were arguing about the best way to cut a frozen pizza into 4ths so that the 4 peices are closest to equal.

I said, if you can eyeball it so it looks pretty close to equal 4ths then taking the peices across from each other would be the best way to get almost equal halfs of the pizza.

Here is a crappy diagram if that doesnt make sense:

\ 1/
2 \/ 2
/
/1 \


Obviouisly those peices are close to being equal, but if I ate both pieces labeled 1, and he ate both pieces labeled 2.

But what i was trying to say is that if the peices are cut fairly close to equal 4ths but slightly off, eating the pieces across from each will be the closest way to get equal halves.

Does anyone know if there is a math formula that we could use to settle this argument. Trig was a long time ago.

*************

Thanks,

-=bmacd=-

Just slice it like you did. There's no formula, there's just common sense and honesty. If your friend sees that there are 2 bigger slices, it seems more than fair to me that you will both take one of the smaller pieces, and one of the larger ones.

 

[PurdueRy]

It would be better to eat the pieces next to eachother if you both want the same amount...and in that case they would be equal

no matter how you cut it the first time it will be 1/2 the pizza...the second cut will just divide each 1/2 into some other proportion..however, it will still be 1/2 together. Therefore if you each 2 pieces that are on the same side of the first cut...you will both eat 1/2 the pizza

 

[bmacd]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
It would be better to eat the pieces next to eachother if you both want the same amount...and in that case they would be equal

no matter how you cut it the first time it will be 1/2 the pizza...the second cut will just divide each 1/2 into some other proportion..however, it will still be 1/2 together. Therefore if you each 2 pieces that are on the same side of the first cut...you will both eat 1/2 the pizza

seems simple enough 🙂 Thanks,

-=bmacd=-

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
It would be better to eat the pieces next to eachother if you both want the same amount...and in that case they would be equal

no matter how you cut it the first time it will be 1/2 the pizza...the second cut will just divide each 1/2 into some other proportion..however, it will still be 1/2 together. Therefore if you each 2 pieces that are on the same side of the first cut...you will both eat 1/2 the pizza

Like what I said. 🙂

Or, just cut the pizza in half. Give him his half and have him cut his own damn thing.

 

[ActuaryTm]

Please cut said pizza into two pieces.

I couldn't possibly eat four.

 

[Armitage]

One person cuts, the other gets first pick 😀

 

[Evadman]

If you cut the piza into 4 pieces and the 2 cuts cross at the same point, then take one small one large, they are the same size.

 

[DrPizza]

lmao, it's a good thing there's not 3 people sharing that pizza!

The sharing solution for 2 people is simple: One person divides up the object onto 2 plates, slicing it however he wants, until he's satisfied that both plates are equal. The 2nd person chooses the plate.