09-30-2012, 09:27 PM | #1 |
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MarioNintendo Geometry/Algebra problem about pizza
Hey guys, I need help from you majors in math and stuff. While I was eating pizza today (with fork and knife, otherwise this problem wouldn't exist) I was wondering at what height we'd have to cut a slice in order to end up with two pieces of the same area. Kinda silly, I know, but I'm beginning University tomorrow after 6 months of not doing any kind of maths (I was more physics oriented) and I wanted to refresh my memory.
Here's how far I got. I got a bit lazy in the end, but I was more curious at how you guys thought this problem could be solved. Seems fairly easy and definitely possible, just need the right tools to work it. (I pretended the sides of the pizza were all the same size so I could have 60° angles) Thanks! Hope I didn't screw up at some part... D: |
09-30-2012, 09:38 PM | #2 |
FFR Simfile Author
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Re: MarioNintendo Geometry/Algebra problem about pizza
Use the r:r^2:r^3 theorem.
For two similar 2D shapes, if the lengths are in the proportion of r:1, then the areas are in the proportion of r^2:1 So that just means just cut it so that one of the two pieces is an equilateral triangle of side length x/sqrt(2), where x is the length of one of the sides of the original pizza. Edit: So that means from the top, using a 30-60-90 triangle relation, you would need to cut it at the point x*sqrt(3)/2sqrt(2) (from the top of the pizza). Last edited by dag12; 09-30-2012 at 09:40 PM.. |
09-30-2012, 09:45 PM | #3 | |
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Re: MarioNintendo Geometry/Algebra problem about pizza
Quote:
I can't figure out how you came to those answers, though, I'd need to re-do it on paper XD |
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09-30-2012, 10:42 PM | #4 |
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Re: MarioNintendo Geometry/Algebra problem about pizza
Are you eating hexagonal pizzas?
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09-30-2012, 10:49 PM | #5 |
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Re: MarioNintendo Geometry/Algebra problem about pizza
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09-30-2012, 11:10 PM | #6 |
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Re: MarioNintendo Geometry/Algebra problem about pizza
I would just do
Area of slice: BH/2 Thus Area of minitriangle: b*(H-h)/2 Area of trapezoid: h*(b+B)/2 Set equal and solve for h b*(H-h)/2 = h*(b+B)/2 bH-bh = hb+hB bH = hb+hB+bh bH = h(b+B+b) h = bH/(2b+B) But we don't want to care about what b is. We just want to write this as a function of h. Note that, due to similar triangles: (H-h)/(b/2) = H/(B/2) (B/2)*(H-h) = H*(b/2) b = 2*(B/2)*(H-h)/H So: h = bH/(2b+B) from earlier, substitute in the b expression h = (2*(B/2)*(H-h)/H)*H/(2*(2*(B/2)*(H-h)/H)+B) h in this case reduces to h = H*(2-sqrt(2))/2 or h = 0.2928932188134H In other words, it's a tad under 30% of the way up the pizza slice (from the bottom) Last edited by Reincarnate; 10-1-2012 at 08:57 AM.. |
09-30-2012, 11:18 PM | #7 |
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Re: MarioNintendo Geometry/Algebra problem about pizza
Actually let me double check that with dag's results
He says x*sqrt(3)/(2*sqrt(2)) from the tip of the pizza works In this case 2*H/sqrt(3) = x So (2*H/sqrt(3))*sqrt(3)/(2*sqrt(2)) + H*(2-sqrt(2))/2 should equal H And indeed it does Because (2*H/sqrt(3))*sqrt(3)/(2*sqrt(2)) reduces to H/sqrt(2) and H/sqrt(2) + H*(2-sqrt(2))/2 = H(1/sqrt(2) + (2-sqrt(2))/2) = H(sqrt(2)/2 + (2-sqrt(2))/2) = H(2/2) = H Last edited by Reincarnate; 09-30-2012 at 11:21 PM.. |
09-30-2012, 11:51 PM | #8 |
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Re: MarioNintendo Geometry/Algebra problem about pizza
I'm bored, so... what happens if the pizza is circular, with radius x, and you cut a 60 degree slice?
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